purpose
part of speech
noun (a purpose, purposes); phrase (on purpose)
meaning for a pupil
1) The purpose of something is the reason it exists or the job it is meant to do. tree →
2) Your purpose is what you are trying to achieve. tree →
3) If you do something on purpose, you mean to do it; it is not an accident. tree →
4) To purpose something means to intend or plan to do it. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: As a verb it means to plan or intend to do something, an old use. As a noun it means a plan or aim, as in "the purpose of the Almighty." Interpretation: The tradition notes that God judges intent too; at Babel, the people's shared purpose shows how strong a united plan can be. The prophets and Proverbs teach that God's purpose cannot be undone, and human plans succeed through good counsel. In the primary lessons: In school and science you ask «What is the purpose of the roots?» (to take in water and hold the plant). In writing lessons the «purpose» of a text is why it was written: to inform, persuade or entertain. In everyday life and fairness «on purpose» matters a lot: hurting someone on purpose is much worse than by accident, and saying «It wasn't on purpose» is how people explain mistakes. In stories a hero often finds a purpose in life.
examples
- then shall ye do unto him, as he had purposed to do unto his brother; so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee. (Torah DEU.19.19, JPS 1917) tree →
- And the LORD said: 'Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do; and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do. (Torah GEN.11.6, JPS 1917) tree →
- And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. (Torah GEN.27.42, JPS 1917) tree →
- Canst thou attain unto the purpose of the Almighty? (Writings JOB.11.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? (Prophets ISA.14.27, JPS 1917) tree →
- Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war. (Writings PRO.20.18, JPS 1917) tree →
- What is the purpose of a seatbelt? tree →
- The purpose of this experiment is to find out which material floats. tree →
- He tripped me on purpose! tree →
- I didn't break it on purpose, I'm sorry. tree →
- The purpose of a persuasive letter is to change someone's mind. tree →
- Each tool in the box has its own purpose. tree →
- Our club's purpose is to keep the beach clean. tree →
- She left the door open on purpose so the cat could come in. tree →
- Bishop Olaf of Borglum, what dost thou purpose? tree →
note
Countable noun. «On purpose» = deliberately; its opposite is «by accident» or «by mistake». Say «for the purpose of», not «for purpose». «Purposeful» means having a clear aim. Pronounced PUR-pus, not «pur-pose» like «pose».
In the corpora
- For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?
- And let them tell thee now; and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed concerning Egypt.
- For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I called her arrogancy that sitteth still.
- To what purpose is to Me the frankincense that cometh from Sheba, and the sweet cane, from a far country?
- so again do I purpose in these days to do good unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear ye not.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «purpose» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.