Definition of the word intensive

The word "intensive" comes from the Latin prefix "in-" meaning "into" or "on" and the stem "tendere" meaning "stretch" or "extend." When these elements are combined, we get the word "intendentus," meaning something that is "stretched into" or "extended to the fullest extent." In medieval Latin, "intensive" was used to describe things that were used intensively or at a concentrated level. This meaning evolved over time and by the 17th century, it had come to be more closely associated with the concept of concentrated or high-density usage, particularly in relation to academic study. In modern English, "intensive" continues to be used to describe things that are done intensively or at a high intensity, such as intensive care, intensive exercise, and intensive study. Additionally, it can refer to a process or program that focuses on a specific skill or task in a concentrated way, as in intensive language courses, or intensive farming practices. Overall, the word "intensive" continues to convey a sense of focused, concentrated effort or usage.