Смысл: purposes

purpose1. [ʹpɜ:pəs] n
<Í> 1. цель, намерение; замысел
on purpose - нарочно, с целью
to the purpose - кстати, к делу
beside the purpose - нецелесообразно
of set purpose - с умыслом, предумышленно, преднамеренно
for practical purposes - для практических целей, с практической целью
to answer /to serve/ one's /the/ purpose - соответствовать своему назначению, отвечать требованиям; подходить, годиться
that serves no purpose - это не годится; это не отвечает требованиям /не соответствует своему назначению/
to pursue a purpose steadily - упорно преследовать цель
to gain /to achieve, to effect/ one's purpose - добиться /достичь/ своей цели
the purpose of his visit - цель его посещения
a novel with a purpose - тенденциозный роман
what was your purpose in doing that? - с какой целью вы это сделали?
we're (talking) at cross purposes - мы друг друга не понимаем
we were at cross purposes the whole time - мы всё время говорим о разных вещах
2. результат, успех
to good purpose - с большим успехом; с большой пользой
to little purpose - почти безуспешно, безрезультатно
to no purpose - напрасно, тщетно, безуспешно
to some purpose - с некоторой пользой; небесполезно; не без успеха
3. 1) целеустремлённость, целенаправленность
sense of purpose - целеустремлённость
man of purpose - целеустремлённый человек
2) воля, решительность
wanting in purpose - слабовольный, нерешительный
he is weak of purpose - он нерешителен

2. [ʹpɜ:pəs] v
<Í> иметь целью, намереваться; замышлять
they purpose a further attempt - они намерены предпринять новую попытку
to be purposed - уст. намереваться

purposes Идиома

at cross purposes

have opposite ways to do something, opposing goals They are at cross purposes and are always arguing about what to do.

for all practical purposes

Idiom(s): for all practical purposes

Theme: ESSENTIALLY - BASICALLY

as might be reasonably expected; essentially.
• For all practical purposes, this is simply a matter of right and wrong.
• This should be considered final, for all practical purposes.

for all intents and purposes

Idiom(s): for all intents and purposes

Theme: ESSENTIALLY - BASICALLY

virtually; practically speaking. (Sometimes this expression has very little meaning. Fixed order.)
• He entered the room, looking for all intents and purposes as if he would burst into song.
• She said that for all intents and purposes she had completed her assignment.

at cross-purposes

Idiom(s): at cross-purposes

Theme: OPPOSITION

with opposing purposes; with goals that interfere with each other.
• We are arguing at cross-purposes. We aren't even discussing the same thing.
• Bill and Tom are working at cross-purposes. They'll never get the job done right.

To all intents and purposes

This means in all the most important ways.

talk at cross purposes

when two people don't understand each other because they are talking about two different things (but don't realise it): "We're talking at cross purposes here."

at cross purposes|cross purposes|purpose|purposes

adv. phr. With opposing meanings or aims; with opposing effect or result; with aims which hinder or get in each other's way. Tom's parents acted at cross purposes in advising him; his father wanted him to become a doctor; but his mother wanted him to become a minister.

to all intents and purposes|intents|purposes|to

adv. phr. In most ways; in fact. The president is called the head of state, but the prime minister, to all intents and purposes, is the chief executive.