intense

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Of a characteristic

   Of a characteristic: extreme or very high or strong in degree; severe; also, excessive, towering.

   • Nor was I yet able to passe through any of the narrower streets, but kept the widest; the ground and air, smoake and fiery vapour, continu'd so intense that my haire was almost sing'd, and my feete unsufferably surbated.
   • […] Nature had a robe of glory on, / And the bright air o'er every shape did weave / Intenser hues, so that the herbless stone, / The leafless bough among the leaves alone, / Had being clearer than its own could be, […]
2. 2

   Of a thing

   Of a thing: possessing some characteristic to an extreme or very high or strong degree.

   • [T]h' intense atom glows / A moment, then is quenched in a most cold repose.
   • These pendent lamps and chandeliers are bright / As earthly fires from dull dross can be cleansed; / Yet could my eyes drink up intenser beams / Undazzled—this is darkness—when I close / These lids, i see far fiercer brilliances,— […]
   • As the night came on the yellow stars grew more intense overhead, but the lambent glow in the north did not pale.
3. 3

   Of feelings, thoughts, etc.

   Of feelings, thoughts, etc.: strongly focused; ardent, deep, earnest, passionate.

   • intense study
   • intense thought
   • No mortall nature can endure either in the actions of Religion, or ſtudy of VViſdome, vvithout ſometime ſlackning the cords of intenſe thought and labour: […]
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Of a person

      Of a person: very emotional or passionate.

      • The artist was a small, intense man with piercing blue eyes.
      • Fair Æsthetic (suddenly, and in deepest tones, to Smith, who has just been introduced to take her in to Dinner). "Are you Intense?"
   2. 5

      Under tension

      Under tension; tightly drawn; strained, stressed, tense.

The neighborhood

• neighbordisintensify
• neighborintensification
• neighborintensified
• neighborintensifier
• neighborintensifying
• neighborintensive
• neighborreintensify