De*sign" (?), n. [Cf.
dessein, dessin.]
1. A preliminary sketch; an outline or pattern of the main features of something to be executed, as
of a picture, a building, or a decoration; a delineation; a plan.
2. A plan
or scheme formed in the
mind of something to be done; preliminary conception; idea intended to be expressed in a
visible form or carried into action; intention; purpose; -- often used in a bad sense for evil intention or purpose; scheme; plot.
The vast design and purpos&?; of the King.
Tennyson.
The leaders of that assembly who withstood the designs of a besotted woman.
Hallam.
A . . . settled design upon another man's
life.
Locke.
How little he could guess the secret designs of the court!
Macaulay. 3. Specifically, intention or purpose as revealed or inferred from the adaptation of means to an end; as, the argument from design.
4. The realization of an inventive or decorative plan; esp., a work of decorative art considered as a new creation; conception or plan shown
in completed work; as, this carved panel is a fine design, or of a fine design.
5. (Mus.) The invention and conduct of the subject; the disposition of every part, and the general order of the whole.
Arts of design, those into which the designing of artistic forms and figures enters as a principal part, as architecture, painting, engraving, sculpture. -- School of design, one in which are
taught the invention and delineation of artistic or decorative figures, patterns, and the like.
Syn. -- Intention; purpose; scheme; project; plan; idea. - - Design, Intention, Purpose. Design has reference to something definitely aimed at. Intention points to the feelings or desires with which a
thing is sought. Purpose has reference to a settled choice or determination for its attainment. "I had no design to injure you," means it was no part of my aim or object. "I had
no intention to injure you," means, I had no wish or desire of
that kind. "My purpose was directly the reverse," makes the case still stronger.
Is he a prudent man . . . that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to the remaining part of his life?
Tillotson.
I wish others the same intention, and greater
successes.
Sir W.
Temple. It is the purpose that makes strong the vow.
Shak.
De*sign" , v. i. To form a design
or designs; to plan.
Design for, to intend to go
to. [Obs.]
"From this city she
designed for Collin [Cologne]." Evelyn.
De*sign" (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designed (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Designing.]
[F.
désigner to designate, cf. F. dessiner to draw, dessin drawing,
dessein a plan or scheme; all, ultimately, from L. designare to designate; de- + signare to mark, mark out, signum mark, sign. See Sign, and cf. Design, n.,
Designate.] 1. To draw preliminary outline or main features of; to sketch
for a pattern or model; to delineate; to trace out; to
draw. Dryden.
2.
To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to
appoint.
We shall see
Justice design the victor's chivalry.
Shak.
Meet me to-morrow where the master
And this fraternity shall design.
Beau. & Fl. 3. To create or
produce, as a work of art; to form a plan or scheme of; to
form in idea; to invent; to project; to lay out in the mind; as,
a man designs an essay, a poem, a statue, or a cathedral.
4. To intend or
purpose; -- usually with
for before the remote object, but sometimes with to.
Ask
of politicians the end for which
laws were originally
designed.
Burke.
He was
designed to the study of the
law.
Dryden. Syn. -- To sketch; plan; purpose; intend; propose; project; mean.
Hear it pronounced