intense
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intense
- /ɪnˈtɛns/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛns
Where it comes from
From Late Middle English intens, intense (“ardent, fervent; extreme, great, intense”), borrowed from Old French intense (modern French intense), or directly from its etymon Latin intēnsus (“strained, stretched tight; intense; attentive; violent; (rare) eager, intent”), the perfect passive participle of intendō (“to stretch out, strain”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + tendō (“to extend, stretch”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tend- (“to extend, stretch”)).
adjective intenser · more intense · intensest · most intense
- Of a characteristic: extreme or very high or strong in degree; severe; also, excessive, towering. Nor was I yet able to passe through any of the narrower streets, but kept the widest; the ground and air, smoake and fiery vapour, continu'd so intense that my haire was almost sing'd, and my feete unsufferably surbated.
- Of a thing: possessing some characteristic to an extreme or very high or strong degree. [T]h' intense atom glows / A moment, then is quenched in a most cold repose.
- Of feelings, thoughts, etc.: strongly focused; ardent, deep, earnest, passionate. intense study
- Of a person: very emotional or passionate. The artist was a small, intense man with piercing blue eyes.
- Under tension; tightly drawn; strained, stressed, tense.
