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.