American Dictionary of the English Language

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Design


DESIGN, verb transitive [Latin To seal or stamp, that is, to set or throw.]

1. To delineate a form or figure by drawing the outline; to sketch; as in painting and other works of art.

2. To plan; to form an outline or representation of any thing. Hence,

3. To project; to form in idea, as a scheme. Hence,

4. To purpose or intend; as, a man designs to write an essay, or to study law.

5. To mark out by tokens.

6. To intend to apply or appropriate; with for; as, we design this ground for a garden, and that for a park. The word design may include an adapting or planning a thing for a purpose, or mere intention or scheme of the mind, which implies a plan. The father designs his son for the profession of the law, or for the ministry. It was formerly followed by to, but this use is now uncommon.

DESIGN, noun

1. A plan or representation of a thing by an outline; sketch; general view; first idea represented by visible lines; as in painting or architecture.

2. A scheme or plan in the mind. A wise man is distinguished by the judiciousness of his designs.

3. Purpose; intention; aim; implying a scheme or plan in the mind. It is my design to educate my son for the bar.

4. The idea or scheme intended to be expressed by an artist; as the designs of medals.

5. In manufactories, the figures with which workmen enrich their stuffs, copied from painting or draughts.

6. In music, the invention and conduct of the subject; the disposition of every part, and the general order of the whole.