aim

The verb is from Middle English amen, aimen, eimen (“to guess at, to estimate, to aim”), borrowed from Old French esmer, aesmer, asmer, from Latin ad- plus aestimare (“to estimate”), the compound perhaps being originally formed in Medieval Latin (adaestimare), perhaps in Old French. The noun is from Middle English ame, from Old French aesme, esme.

Noun

aim (plural aims)

1. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, or object, in the line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of fire; the direction of anything, such as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike or affect it.

   Take time with the aim of your gun.

   to take aim

2. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or affected.
3. Intention or goal [ synonyms ▲][ quotations ▼]

   Synonyms: purpose, design, scheme

   My number one aim in life is to make money to make my parents, siblings and kids happy.

4. The ability of someone to aim straight; one's faculty for being able to hit a physical target

   The police officer has excellent aim, always hitting the bullseye in shooting practice.

5. (obsolete) Conjecture; guess. [ quotations ▼]