to all intents and purposes

2 definitions found

to all intents and purposes - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Intent \In*tent"\, n. [OE. entent, entente, attention, purpose,
     OF. entente, F. entente understanding, meaning; a participial
     noun, fr. F. & OF. entendre. See Intend.]
     The act of turning the mind toward an object; hence, a
     design; a purpose; intention; meaning; drift; aim.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Be thy intents wicked or charitable.     --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The principal intent of Scripture is to deliver the
           laws of duties supernatural.             --Hooker.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     To all intents and purposes, in all applications or senses;
        practically; really; virtually; in essence; essentially.
        "He was miserable to all intents and purpose."
        --L'Estrange.
  
     Syn: Design; purpose; intention; meaning; purport; view;
          drift; object; end; aim; plan.
          [1913 Webster]

to all intents and purposes - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  to all intents and purposes
      adv 1: in every practical sense; "to all intents and purposes
             the case is closed"; "the rest are for all practical
             purposes useless" [syn: for all practical purposes, to  all intents and purposes
             , for all intents and  purposes
             ]