for - from - search - Google - etymology intention - https://hyp.is/O_UfRN-4Ee-f4h-9EXrI_g/www.google.com/search?q=intention+etymology&oq=intention+etymology&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQLhhA0gEIMzkxNmowajmoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 - question - intention and stretching out

comment - from Latin intentionem (nominative intentio) "a stretching out, straining, exertion, effort; attention," noun of action from intendere "to turn one's attention," literally "to stretch out" - I'm not sure that - the "stretching towards" of attention and - the "stretching out" of intention - conveys a clear relationship between them - I understand the "stretching towards" of attention but don't get the sense of "stretching out" as it applies to intention - I think of energy and purpose but stretching out doesn't seem aligned to it

question - intention - as stretching out - I don't understand how intention can be described as stretching out. I understand it as having a goal or purpose - Stretching out is perhaps alluding to a FUTURE action - to get hold of something you don't presently have so you are stretching out - Perhaps more of a literal hand movement - stretching out your hand to get something you don't currently have - whereas stretching towards is alluding more to something in the present, although it seems they can both be used interchangeably for reaching for an object not currently in your possession: - the baby stretched his hand towards the apple - the baby stretched out his hands to grasp the apple