Intend by or intend with?
Someone gives a parable whose wisdom is not quite understood, so they are asked:
'What did you intend by this parable?'
Or:
'What did you intend with this parable?'
Which preposition is more acceptable?
Intend by is used along with an action. - What do you intend by doing something
Intend with is used along with an object. What do you intend to do with something
So, intend by seems to be better suited in this context. As in
What did you intend by (telling) this parable.
Usually the action is omitted for brevity or if it is understood by default as in this case.