Intentio

Intention; design; meaning or purpose. Intentio caeca mala: a blind or obscure meaning is bad, or ineffectual. Intentio inservire debet legibus, non leges intentioni: the intention [of a party] ought to be subservient to [or in accordance with] the laws, not the laws to the intention. Intentio mea imponit nomen operi meo: my intention gives name to my act.

In old English law

The plaintiff's or demandant's count, or declaration in real actions. In the civil law. The formula by which the plaintiff preferred his suit or made his claim against the defendant before the praetor.