[3.5e] Detect Evil

[Curmudgeon]

Detect Evil will, according to the spell, detect "Evil creature" or "Evil outsider" based on its HD. Note that this spell does not specify evil alignment. (In fact, the only alignment mention is specific to the caster.) And Detect Evil will register evil when directed at a neutral-aligned Cleric of an evil deity, and similarly for non-evil undead, so at least in this case alignment is not what the spell detects.

So it's DM's call whether "Evil creature"/"Evil outsider" is:

• Evil alignment
• Evil intent

To be consistent with the workings when applied to Clerics and undead, I think "Evil intent" is what makes more sense. If a creature is actively contemplating doing something evil, the spell will register it. If, say, the creature is hungry and thinking about lunch, there's no evil to detect. (If it happens to be thinking about eating babies for lunch, that's different. )