attend

English

WOTD – 29 April 2024

Etymology

PIE word
*h₂éd

From Middle English attenden, atenden (“to devote oneself (to a task, etc.); to pay attention to (something), to look after; to consider (something); to expect or look forward to (something); to intend to do (something); to help or serve (someone), attend upon; to take care of (something)”),^[1] from Old French atendre (“to await, wait for; to expect; to intend”), from Latin attendere, the present active infinitive of attendō, adtendō (“to pay attention to, attend; to direct or turn toward”), from ad- (“prefix meaning ‘to, towards’”) + tendō (“to direct one’s course; to extend, stretch; to exert, strive”).^[2] Doublet of attempt and tend.

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /əˈtɛnd/, [əˈtʰɛnd]
Audio (General American): (file)
Homophone: atend
Rhymes: -ɛnd
Hyphenation: at‧tend

Verb

attend (third-person singular simple present attends, present participle attending, simple past and past participle attended)

Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present.
1. (transitive) To care for (someone requiring attention); specifically, of a doctor, nurse, etc.: to provide professional care to (someone).
  - 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 41, page 146:
    The fift [beadsman] had charge ſick perſons to attend, / And comfort thoſe, in point of death vvhich lay; […]
  - 1722 March, H[enry] F[oe] [pseudonym; Daniel Defoe], A Journal of the Plague Year: […], London: […] E[lizabeth] Nutt […]; J. Roberts […]; A. Dodd […]; and J. Graves […], →OCLC, page 98:
    VVe had at this Time a great many frightful Stories told us of Nurſes and VVatchmen, vvho looked after the dying People, that is to ſay, hir'd Nurſes, vvho attended infected People, uſing them barbarouſly, ſtarving them, ſmothering them, or by other vvicked Means, haſtening their End, that is to ſay, murthering of them: […]
  - 1733 (indicated as 1732), [Alexander] Pope, Of the Use of Riches, an Epistle to the Right Honourable Allen Lord Bathurst, London: […] J. Wright, for Lawton Gilliver […], →OCLC, page 14:
    Is any ſick? the Man of Roſs relieves; / Preſcribes, attends, the med'cine makes, and gives.
2. (transitive) To wait on (someone or their instructions) as an attendant, servant, etc.; also (specifically of a gentleman-in-waiting or lady-in-waiting to a member of royalty), to accompany (someone) in order to assist or wait upon them; to escort. [from 15th c.]
  Synonyms: bestand, serve; see also Thesaurus:serve
  
  Servants attend the king day and night.
  - c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 22, column 2:
    I thinke your Lordſhip is not ignorant / Hovv his companion, youthfull Valentine, / Attends the Emperour in his royall Court.
  - c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 267, column 2:
    Madame, the young Gentleman of the Count Orſino’s is return’d, I could hardly entreate him backe: he attends your Ladyſhips pleaſure.
  - 1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], “To the Right Worshipful John Offley of Madely Manor in the County of Stafford, Esq; My Most Honoured Friend”, in The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, […], London: […] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, […], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN:
    [I]f common Anglers ſhould attend you, and be eye-vvitneſſes of the ſucceſs, not of your fortune, but your skill, it vvould doubtleſs beget in them an emulation to be like you, and that emulation might beget an induſtrious diligence to be so: but I knovv it is not attainable by common capacities.
  - 1752 February 26 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 200. Saturday, February 15. 1752.”, in The Rambler, volume VIII, Edinburgh: […] Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1752, →OCLC, page 119:
    [He] told me, that he had promiſed to attend ſome ladies in the park, and, if I vvas going the ſame vvay, vvould take me in his chariot.
  - 1855, William H[ickling] Prescott, “Early Days of Philip”, in History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, volume I, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson, and Company, →OCLC, book I, page 40:
    In October, 1543, the Portuguese infanta quitted her father's place in Lisbon, and set out for Castile. She was attended by a numerous train of nobles, with the archbishop of Lisbon at their head.
  - 1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XXIII, in Lady Trevelyan (Hannah More Macaulay), editor, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume V, London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, →OCLC:
    [W]ith devoted loyalty, though with a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither.
4. (transitive) To be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings; also, to regularly go to (an event or place). [from 17th c.]
  Children must attend primary school.
  - 1831, Thomas Carlyle, “Idyllic”, in Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh. […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, page 68:
    Andreas too attended Church; yet more like a parade-duty, for which he in the other world expected pay with arrears,— […]
  - 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter II, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 177:
    It was made a crime to attend a dissenting place of worship. A single justice of the peace might convict without a jury, and might, for the third offence, pass sentence of transportation beyond sea for seven years.
  - 1897, Tho[ma]s Bengough, “Stenographic Miseries”, in Proceedings of the New York State Stenographers’ Association, […], Albany, N.Y.: Weed-Parsons Printing Company, […], →OCLC, page 59:
    The scribe attendeth the meeting of a learned body where the discussions are technical and rapid; yet he must produce a complete and intelligible transcript.
  - 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 62:
    In the eyes of Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke the apotheosis of the Celebrity was complete. The people of Asquith were not only willing to attend the house-warming, but had been worked up to the pitch of eagerness. The Celebrity as a matter of course was master of ceremonies.
  - 1994, Nelson Mandela, “Part One: A Country Childhood”, in Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 15:
    I attended a one-room school next door to the palace and studied English, Xhosa, history and geography.
6. (transitive) To take action with respect to (someone, or something such as a concern, problem, or task); to deal with, to handle. [from 15th c.]
7. (transitive) Of a (chiefly immaterial) thing: to be consequent to or present with (someone or something); to accompany.
  a measure attended with ill effects
  - 1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 91, verso:
    [I] haue alſo attended them vvith briefe obſeruations, ſuch as to my vnderſtandinge, offer noe violence to the ſence, though I knovve they may bee applyed to a more diuine vſe: […]
  - 1623, G[ervase] M[arkham], “To the Right Honourable and Most Excellentest of All Ladies, Frances, Countesse Dowager of Exceter”, in Countrey Contentments, or The English Huswife. Containing the Inward and Outward Vertues which Ought to be in a Compleate Woman. […], revised edition, London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for R[oger] Iackson, […], →OCLC:
    [M]y ſelfe and my poore prayers ſhall to my laſt gaſpe labour to attend you.
  - 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 53:
    Piety VVhat moved you at firſt to betake yourſelf to a Pilgrims life? / Chr[istian]. I vvas driven out of my Native Countrey, by a dreadful ſound that vvas in mine ears, to vvit, that unavoidable deſtruction did attend me, if I abode in that place vvhere I vvas.
  - 1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 62, lines 419–424:
    Novv ſing vve ſtormy Stars, vvhen Autumn vveighs / The Year, and adds to Nights, and ſhortens Days; / And Suns declining ſhine vvith feeble Rays: / VVhat cares muſt then attend the toiling Svvain; / Or vvhen the lovv'ring Spring, vvith laviſh Rain, / Beats dovvn the ſlender Stem and bearded Grain: […]
  - 1712 August 16 (Gregorian calendar), [Richard Steele], “TUESDAY, August 5, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 449; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 211:
    […] Fidelia answered with a frankness that always attends virtue: […]
    The spelling has been modernized.
  - 1751 December (indicated as 1752), Henry Fielding, “Containing Many Surprising Adventures”, in Amelia, volume III, London: […] [William Strahan] for A[ndrew] Millar […], →OCLC, book VIII, page 141:
    Our Food vvas attended vvith ſome Ale, vvhich our kind Hoſteſs ſaid ſhe intended not to have tap'd till Chriſtmas; […]
  - 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter I, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume I, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 55:
    [W]ealth was an inferior object; but what glory would attend the discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!
  - 1921, Ben Travers, “‘Sing Cuccu Nu’”, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC, part I (“Come He Will”), page 47:
    The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite. There is something humiliating about it. […] Can those harmless but refined fellow-diners be the selfish cads whose gluttony and personal appearance so raised your contemptuous wrath on your arrival?
8. (transitive, archaic or obsolete) To look after (someone or something); to tend.
  - 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi], page 375, column 2:
    They [plate and jewels] are in a Trunke / Attended by my men: I vvill make bold / To ſend them to you, onely for this night: […]
  - 1725, Homer, “Book III”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 130, lines 536–539:
    One ſeek the harbour vvhere the veſſels moor, / And bring thy friends, Telemachus! aſhore, / (Leave only tvvo the gally to attend) / Another to Laerceus muſt vve ſend, […]
9. (intransitive) Followed by to: to look after someone or something.
  Valets attend to their employers’ wardrobes.
  - 1853, Pisistratus Caxton [pseudonym; Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XVI, in “My Novel”; Or Varieties in English Life […], volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book third, page 220:
    Lenny still went to church—a church a long way off in another parish—but the sermons did not do him the same good as Parson Dale's had done; and the clergyman, who had his own flock to attend to, did not condescend, as Parson Dale would have done, to explain what seemed obscure, and enforce what was profitable, in private talk, with that stray lamb from another's fold.
10. (intransitive) To be ready to wait upon someone or their instructions as an attendant, servant, etc.; also (followed by on or upon), to accompany someone in order to assist or wait upon them.
  - 1579, Plutarke of Chæronea [i.e., Plutarch], “The Life of Sylla”, in Thomas North, transl., The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romaines, […], London: […] Richard Field, →OCLC, page 505:
    [H]e entertained a gard of three thovvſand about him, beſides a band of young gentlemen of the order of knightes that attended alvvayes upon his perſone ready at commaundement, vvhom he called the garde againſt the Senate.
  - 1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 138, lines 539–544:
    Th' officious Nymphs, attending in a Ring, / VVith VVaters dravvn from their perpetual Spring, / From earthly dregs his Body purify, / And rub his Temples, vvith fine Tovvels, dry: / Then load the Tables vvith a lib'ral Feaſt, / And honour vvith full Bovvls their friendly Gueſt.
  - 1801, Robert Southey, “The Seventh Book”, in Thalaba the Destroyer, volume II, London: […] [F]or T[homas] N[orton] Longman and O[wen] Rees, […], by Biggs and Cottle, […], →OCLC, page 84:
    Following on the veiled Bride / Fifty female slaves attend / In costly robes that gleam / With interwoven gold, […]
  - 1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Canto First. The Castle.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC, stanza VIII, page 30:
    [T]wenty yeomen, two and two, / In hosen black, and jerkins blue, / With falcons broider'd on each breast, / Attended on their lord's behest.
  - 1879, George Mac Donald, “A Voice”, in Sir Gibbie. […], volume II, London: Hurst and Blackett, […], →OCLC, page 84:
    He […] had sought his place in the live universe by attending on drunk people and helping them home through the midnight streets, […]
11. (intransitive) Followed by at: to go to and be present at a place for some purpose; also (obsolete), followed by on: to be present at and take part in an event.
  - 1655, Thomas Stanley, “[Chilon.] Chapter III. His Death, and Writings.”, in The History of Philosophy. […], volume I, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring, […], →OCLC, 1st part ([Containing Those on whom the Attribute of Wise was Conferr’d]), page 72:
    He died (according to Hermippas) at Piſa, embracing his ſon, victor in the Olympick games, of the cæſtus, the vveakneſſe of his age overcome vvith exceſſe of joy; all vvho vvere preſent at the great aſſembly attended on his funeralls, […]
  - 1760, Edmund Burke, “An Essay towards an Abridgment of the English History. […]. Chapter VII. Of the Laws and Institutions of the Saxons.”, in [Walker King], editor, The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, new edition, volume X, London: […] [R. Gilbert] for C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […], published 1826, →OCLC, book II, page 347:
    All persons, of whatever rank, attended at the County Courts, but they did not go there as judges, they went to sue for justice; to be informed of their duty, and to be bound to the performance of it. Thus all sorts of people attended at the Wittenagemotes, not to make laws, but to attend at the promulgation of the laws; as among so free a people every institution must have wanted much of its necessary authority, if not confirmed by the general approbation.
  - 1837 May, E. L., “The Castle and the Monastery”, in The New Monthly Belle Assemblée; a Magazine of Literature and Fashion, […], volume VI, London: […] Joseph Rogerson, […], →OCLC, page 244, column 2:
    'Whither goest thou?' he exclaimed, 'at this hour, were it not better thou attendedst at vespers?'
  - 2011 October 14, Thomas Cromwell, Puisne Justice, Supreme Court of Canada, “R. v. Côté [2011 SCC 46 (CanLII)]”, in Canadian Legal Information Institute‎^[1], archived from the original on 2022-03-13, paragraph 9:
    Around 12:15 a.m. patrolling officers Tremblay and Mathieu attended at the appellant’s home.
  - 2016 April 18, Michele M. Murphy, Justice, Court of Appeal of Prince Edward Island, “R. v. Yeo [[2016] PEIJ No 14 (QL)]”, in Canadian Legal Information Institute‎^[2], paragraph 30:
    There were a few errors in the testimony of [a civilian witness] which the trial judge noted – one, that they attended at the Fairhurst residence the day before the robbery, and two, that Wakelin was with them.
12. (intransitive) Followed by to: to take action with respect to someone or something; to deal with.
  Secretaries attend to correspondence.
  - 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Going Abroad”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 108:
    [T]he two captains, Peleg and Bildad, could attend to everything necessary to fit the vessel for the voyage.
  - 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XV, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
    Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cossack stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew's cap and bells.
13. (intransitive) Followed by on or upon: of a (chiefly immaterial) thing: to be consequent on or present with.
  - c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], signature D3, recto:
    But I aſſeſt the gods, your full conſent, / Gaue vvings to my propenſion, and cut off / All feares attending on ſo dire a proiect, […]
  - 1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 92, recto:
    [K]novvledge dravvne freſhly and in our vievv out of particulers, knovveth the vvaie beſt to particulers againe. And it hath much greater life for practiſe: vvhen the diſcourſe attendeth vpon the Example, then vvhen the example attenddeth^[sic] vpon the diſcourſe.
  - 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter II, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume III, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 29:
    The country in the neighbourhood of this village resembled, to a greater degree, the scenery of Switzerland; but every thing is on a lower scale, and the green hills want the crown of distant white Alps, which always attend on the piny mountains of my native country.
Senses relating to directing one's attention.
1. (transitive, archaic) To listen to (something or someone). [from 15th c.]
  Synonym: behear
  - c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia, London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
    Pyrocles minde was all thius while so fixed upon another devotion, that he no more attentively marked his friends discourse, then […] the diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth attend the unskilful words of a passinger: […]
  - 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi], page 375, column 1:
    Avvay, I do condemne mine eares, that haue / So long attended thee.
  - 1720, Homer, translated by Alexander Pope, “Book XIX”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume V, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 24, lines 510–513:
    But Goddess! thou, thy ſuppliant Son attend, / To high Olympus’ ſhining Court aſcend, / Urge all the Ties to former Service ovv'd, / And ſue for Vengeance to the Thund'ring God.
  - 1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Canto Fifth. The Court.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC, stanza XXI, page 272:
    [M]y tale / Attend, nor deem of light avail, / Though I must speak of worldly love,— […]
2. (transitive, obsolete) To give consideration to (someone or something); to heed, to pay attention, to regard.
  Synonyms: mark, notice
  - 1613, Lucius Annaeus Seneca [i.e., Seneca the Younger], “The Epistles of Lucius Annæus Seneca the Philosopher. […]. Epistle XV.”, in Thomas Lodge, transl., The Workes of Lucius Annæus Seneca, both Morrall and Naturall. […], London: […] William Stansby, →OCLC, page 187:
    If thou attendeſt thy Philosophy, I am glad of it, for that in truth is to be in health. VVithout it the minde is ſicke, and the bodie alſo notvvithſtanding it be ſtrong and able: for it is no othervviſe healthie then as a man might ſay, the bodie of one that is madde and troubled vvith the frenſie.
  - a. 1645 (date written), Francis Quarles, “Chapter V”, in Solomons Recantation, Entituled Ecclesiastes, Paraphrased. […], London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Richard Royston, […], published 1645, →OCLC, page 22:
    Attend thy footſteps vvhen thou dravveſt near / The House of God; […]
  - 1715, Homer, translated by Alexander Pope, “Book III”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 25, lines 526–527:
    The Maids officious round their Miſtreſs vvait, / Then all diſperſing, various Tasks attend; […]
3. (intransitive) Often followed by to, upon, or with: to give consideration; to pay attention.
  Synonyms: notice, take heed; see also Thesaurus:pay attention
  - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 13:5–6:
    Wherfore ye muſt needs be ſubiect [to rulers], not onely for wrath, but alſo for conſcience ſake. For, for this cauſe pay you tribute alſo: for they are Gods ministers, attending continually vpon this very thing.
  - 1685 October 11 (date written; Gregorian calendar), G[ilbert] Burnet, “The Second Letter. Millan, the First of October, 1685.”, in Some Letters. Containing, an Account of what Seemed Most Remarkable in Switzerland, Italy, &c. […], Rotterdam: […] Abraham Acher, […], published 1686, →OCLC, page 78:
    [T]here is a Griſon Regiment kept ſtill in pay by the Spaniards, there are in it tvvelve Companies of fifty a piece, and the Captains have a thouſand Crovvns pay, tho they are not obliged to attend upon the ſervice: […]
  - 1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section IX. A Digression Concerning the Original, the Use and Improvement of Madness in a Commonwealth.”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC, pages 169–170:
    The preſent Argument is the moſt abſtracted that ever I engaged in, it ſtrains my Faculties to their higheſt Stretch; and I deſire the Reader to attend with utmoſt perpenſity; For, I now proceed to unravel this knotty Point.
  - 1712 January 11 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “MONDAY, December 31, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 262; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 308:
    It will be sufficient for me if I discover many beauties or imperfections which others have not attended to; and I should be very glad to see one of our eminent writers publish their discoveries on the same subject.
    The spelling has been modernized.
  - 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], “Walton, in continuation”, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume III, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 168:
    I hesitated before I answered; when Frankenstein, who had at first been silent, and, indeed, appeared hardly to have force enough to attend, now roused himself; his eyes sparkled, and his cheeks flushed with momentary vigour.
4. (intransitive, archaic) Followed by to or unto: to listen. [from 15th c.]
  Synonyms: see Thesaurus:listen
  - c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], signature [E4], verso:
    Thoſe Vnckles vvhich you vvant, vvere dangerous, / Your Grace attended to their ſugred vvords, / But lookt not on the poiſon of their hearts: […]
  - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalm 17:1, column 1:
    Heare the right, O Lord, attend vnto my crie, giue eare vnto my prayer, that goeth not out of fained lips.
  - 1715, Homer, translated by Alexander Pope, “Book I”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 4, lines 61–62:
    Thus Chryſes pray’d: the fav’ring Povv’r attends, / And from Olympus’s lofty Tops deſcends.
  - 1793, William Robert Wake, “Psalm XXXI”, in A Liberal Version of the Psalms into Modern Language, According to the Liturgy Translation; […], volume I, Bath, Somerset: […] R. Cruttwell; and sold by G[eorge] G[eorge] J[ohn] and J. Robinson, […]; and C[harles] Dilly, […], →OCLC, verses 24–25, page 75:
    VVhilſt I vvas haſtening in my flight, I ſaid, "I am rejected from thy favour." Nevertheleſs thou attendedſt to my petition, vvhen I invoked thee.
  - 1902, Rudyard Kipling, “The Beginning of the Armadillos”, in Just So Stories: For Little Children, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC, page 102:
    'Now attend to me,' said Painted Jaguar, 'because this is very important. […]'
(archaic or obsolete) Senses relating to waiting for something.
1. (transitive) To look out or wait for (someone, or something such as a decision or event); to await.
  Synonyms: see Thesaurus:wait for
  - 1658, Thomas Browne, “Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall. […]. Chapter V.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 78:
    Ægyptian ingenuity vvas more unſatisfied, contriving their bodies in ſvveet conſiſtences, to attend the return of their ſouls. But all vvas vanity, feeding the vvinde, and folly.
  - 1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act III, scene ii, page 29:
    Three days I promis'd to attend my Doom, / And tvvo long days and nights are yet to come: […]
  - 1695, William Temple, An Introduction to the History of England, London: […] Richard Simpson […], and Ralph Simpson […], →OCLC, page 124:
    In the City of London, beſides the great Numbers and Riches of the Inhabitants, vvere retired moſt of the great Nobles of the Kingdom, both Eccleſiaſtical and Secular, vvho had not been engaged in Action of either Side, and attended, vvhat vvould be the Iſſue of this ſtrong and violent Convulſion of the State.
  - 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 17:
    Fathers, vve once again are met in Council. / [Julius] Cæsar’s Approach has ſummon’d us together, / And Rome attends her Fate from our Reſolves: […]
  - 1749, [Tobias George Smollett], The Regicide: Or, James the First, of Scotland. A Tragedy. […], London: […] [F]or the benefit of the author, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 17:
    Here I attend / The King—and lo! he comes.— […]
2. (transitive) To expect or look forward to (someone or something).
  - 1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The First Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC, stanza 51, page 11:
    Yet ſatteſt thou an idle looker on, / And glad attendeſt vvhich ſide vvonne or loſt: […]
  - 1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], “Of the Second Punick War”, in The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC, 5th book, §. XIIII (The Romans Winne Some Townes back from Hannibal. […]), page 503:
    This offer vvas contumeliouſly rejected; the Capuans relying on their ovvne ſtrength, and the ſuccours attended from Hannibal.
3. (transitive, figurative) Of a thing: to be in store or lie in wait for (someone or something); to await.
  - 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Of Power”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book II, page 127:
    To him, I ſay, vvho hath a proſpect of the different State of perfect Happineſs or Miſery that attends all Men after this Life, depending on their Behaviour here, the meaſures of Good and Evil, that govern his choice, are mightily changed.
4. (intransitive) To remain and wait; to abide.
  - 1607, Robert Abbot, “Of Free Will”, in The Second Part of The Defence of the Reformed Catholicke. […], London: […] [Richard Field for] Thomæ Adams, →OCLC, page 147:
    […] God knocketh at the doore of our hearts, but vvorketh nothing in our hearts, till vve firſt of our ſelues aſſent to let him in. He attendeth till vve open him the gates, and then he vvith his heauenly gifts vvill enter in; […]
  - 1768, Mr. Yorick [pseudonym; Laurence Sterne], “The Remise. Calais.”, in A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, volume I, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, […], →OCLC, page 78:
    The lady attended as if ſhe expected I ſhould go on.
5. (intransitive, rare) Followed by for: to expect or look forward.
6. (intransitive, figurative) Followed by for: of a thing: to be in store or lie in wait.
(obsolete) To intend (something).

Conjugation

Conjugation of attend

infinitive	(to) attend
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	attend	attended
2nd-person singular	attend, attendest^†	attended, attendedst^†
3rd-person singular	attends, attendeth^†	attended
plural	attend	attended

subjunctive	attend	attended

imperative	attend	—

participles	attending	attended

^†Archaic or obsolete.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

(transitive) to care for (someone requiring attention); specifically, of a doctor, nurse, etc.: to provide professional care to (someone) — see care for

(transitive) to wait on (someone or their instructions) as an attendant, servant, etc.; (intransitive) to be ready to wait upon someone or their instructions as an attendant, servant, etc. — see attend to,‎ wait on

(transitive) to accompany (someone) in order to assist or wait upon them; (intransitive) to accompany someone in order to assist or wait upon them — see escort

(transitive) to be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings; (intransitive) to go to and be present at a place for some purpose

Arabic: حَضَرَ (ḥaḍara)
Bulgarian: посещавам (bg) (poseštavam), присъствам (bg) (prisǎstvam)
Catalan: assistir (ca)
Chinese:
Mandarin: 出席 (zh) (chūxí)
Czech: účastnit se (cs), zúčastnit se (cs)
Dutch: aanwezig zijn, bijwonen (nl), volgen (nl)
Esperanto: ĉeesti (eo)
Finnish: olla läsnä, osallistua (fi)
French: assister (fr), être présent (fr)
Galician: asistir (gl), percurar
German: besuchen (de), teilnehmen (de)
Greek: παραβρίσκομαι (paravrískomai), παρευρίσκομαι (el) (parevrískomai), παρίσταμαι (el) (parístamai)
Hungarian: jelen van, részt vesz (hu)
Ido: asistar (io)
Irish: freastail
Italian: partecipare (it)
Japanese: 出席する (ja) (しゅっせきする, shusseki surú), 立ち会う (ja) (たちあう, tachiau)
Korean: 출석하다 (ko) (chulseokhada)
Latin: intersum (la)
Macedonian: присуствува (prisustvuva)
Occitan: assistir (oc)
Polish: atentować impf (archaic), brać udział (pl), uczęszczać (pl)
Portuguese: assistir (pt), comparecer (pt), estar presente em, participar de
Romanian: fi prezent, participa (ro)
Russian: посеща́ть (ru) impf (poseščátʹ), прису́тствовать (ru) impf (prisútstvovatʹ)
Spanish: acudir (es), asistir (es), presenciar (es), concurrir (es)
Swedish: delta (sv), närvara (sv)
Turkish: katılmak (tr)
Ukrainian: бути присутнім (buty prysutnim)
Vietnamese: tham gia (vi)
Welsh: mynychu (cy)
White Hmong: koom
Yiddish: בײַזײַן (bayzayn)
Zazaki: tor biyen

(transitive) to regularly go to (an event or place)

Bulgarian: посещавам (bg) (poseštavam)
Finnish: käydä (fi)
French: aller (fr), fréquenter (fr)
Greek:
Ancient: φοιτάω (phoitáō) (school)
Hungarian: eljár (hu), jár (hu), látogat (hu)
Italian: frequentare (it)
Japanese: 通う (ja) (かよう, kayou)
Korean: 다니다 (ko) (danida)
Macedonian: please add this translation if you can
Portuguese: frequentar (pt)
Russian: посеща́ть (ru) impf (poseščátʹ), посети́ть (ru) pf (posetítʹ), ходи́ть (ru) impf (xodítʹ) (intransitive)
Spanish: cursar (es), asistir (es), ir (es)

(transitive) to take action with respect to (someone or something); (intransitive) to take action with respect to someone or something — see deal with,‎ handle

(transitive) of a thing: to be consequent to or present with (someone or something); (intransitive) of a thing: to be consequent on or present with — see accompany

(transitive) to look after (someone or something); (intransitive) to look after someone or something — see tend

(transitive) to listen to (something or someone); (intransitive) to listen — see listen

(intransitive) to give consideration — see also pay attention

Bulgarian: грижа се (griža se), обръщам внимание (obrǎštam vnimanie), прислужвам (bg) (prislužvam)
Catalan: atendre (ca)
Czech: zabývat se (cs)
Finnish: hoitaa (fi), huolehtia (fi), pitää huolta
Galician: atender (gl), catar (gl), chatar, espeitar, precurar
German: beachten (de), kümmern (de)
Greek: μεριμνώ (el) (merimnó), φροντίζω (el) (frontízo)
Hungarian: ápol (hu), elintéz (hu), ellát (hu), felügyel (hu), figyel (hu), foglalkozik (hu), gondoskodik (hu), intéz (hu), kiszolgál (hu), törődik (hu), ügyel (hu), vigyáz (hu)
Latin: attendō, audio (la)
Macedonian: please add this translation if you can
Persian: وجهیدن
Portuguese: cuidar (pt)
Russian: име́ть де́ло (ru) impf (imétʹ délo), уделя́ть внима́ние impf (udeljátʹ vnimánije), удели́ть внима́ние pf (udelítʹ vnimánije), занима́ться (ru) impf (zanimátʹsja), заня́ться (ru) (zanjátʹsja)
Scottish Gaelic: sgeadaich
Spanish: atender (es), ocuparse de (es)
Welsh: canolbwyntio ar (cy)

References

^ “attenden, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
^ “attend, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2023; “attend, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Anagrams

Adnett

Dutch

Pronunciation

Audio: (file)

Participle

attend

present participle of atten

Declension

Declension of attend
uninflected	attend
inflected	attende
		positive
predicative/adverbial		attend attende
indefinite	m./f. sing.	attende
	n. sing.	attend
	plural	attende
definite		attende
partitive		attends

French

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /a.tɑ̃/
Audio: (file)

Verb

attend

third-person singular present indicative of attendre

Anagrams

datent

Middle English

Verb

attend (third-person singular simple present attendeth, present participle attendende, attendynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle attended)

Alternative spelling of atenden

[1] “attenden, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

[2] “attend, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2023; “attend, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

[1]

[2]

attend

Contents

English

Etymology

Pronunciation

Verb

Conjugation

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

Further reading

Anagrams

Dutch

Pronunciation

Participle

Declension

French

Pronunciation

Verb

Anagrams

Middle English

Verb