INTENTNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does intentness mean? 

• INTENTNESS (noun)
  The noun INTENTNESS has 1 sense:

1. the quality of being intent and concentrated

  Familiarity information: INTENTNESS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTENTNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being intent and concentrated

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

engrossment; intentness

Context example:

the intentness of his gaze

Hypernyms ("intentness" is a kind of...):

assiduity; assiduousness; concentration (great and constant diligence and attention)

Derivation:

intent (giving or marked by complete attention to)

 Context examples 

“I think that it is more than probable——” he paused, and I was surprised, on glancing round to see that he was staring with singular intentness at the lady’s profile.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The master talked to him gently but seriously, and he cocked his ears, and listened with painful intentness.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Sherlock Holmes had listened with the utmost intentness to the statement of the unhappy schoolmaster.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Suddenly he sat up with a rigid intentness upon his haggard face.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His face was anxious, as was the face of my companion, who had stumped over to the rail and was gazing with a like intentness in the direction of the invisible danger.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Buck did not comprehend that silent intentness, nor the eager way with which they were licking their chops.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Sherlock Holmes had listened to this long narrative with an intentness which showed me that his interest was keenly aroused.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He stopped and regarded her, all of an intentness and eagerness, physically expressed, that slowly faded out of him as she turned her head and gazed back at the camp.

(White Fang, by Jack London)