To make or become more intense, stronger, or more extreme; to increase in degree, force, or concentration. Often used to describe escalating situations or strengthening processes.
From Latin 'intensus' meaning 'stretched tight, strained' (from 'intendere' 'to stretch toward') plus the suffix '-ify' meaning 'to make'. The word developed in the 19th century as scientific and technical vocabulary expanded during industrialization.
The root 'tend' means 'stretch' and appears in 'extend' (stretch out) and 'tension' (stretched state)! When something intensifies, it's being 'stretched tighter'—like turning up the tension on a guitar string to make the sound more intense.
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