Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Attend?

\At*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Attended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Attending}.] [OE. atenden, OF. atendre, F. attendre, to expect, to wait, fr. L. attendre to stretch, (sc. animum), to apply the mind to; ad + tendere to stretch. See {Tend}.] 1. To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to; to regard. [Obs.] The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskillful words of the passenger. --Sir P. Sidney. 2. To care for; to look after; to take charge of; to watch over. 3. To go or stay with, as a companion, nurse, or servant; to visit professionally, as a physician; to accompany or follow in order to do service; to escort; to wait on; to serve. The fifth had charge sick persons to attend. --Spenser. Attends the emperor in his royal court. --Shak. With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither. --Macaulay. 4. To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects. What cares must then attend the toiling swain. --Dryden. 5. To be present at; as, to attend church, school, a concert, a business meeting. 6. To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for. [Obs.] The state that attends all men after this. --Locke. Three days I promised to attend my doom. --Dryden. Syn: To {Attend}, {Mind}, {Regard}, {Heed}, {Notice}. Usage: Attend is generic, the rest are specific terms. To mind is to attend so that it may not be forgotten; to regard is to look on a thing as of importance; to heed is to attend to a thing from a principle of caution; to notice is to think on that which strikes the senses. --Crabb. See {Accompany}.
\At*tend"\, v. i. 1. To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive, understand, or comply; to pay regard; to heed; to listen; -- usually followed by to. Attend to the voice of my supplications. --Ps. lxxxvi. 6. Man can not at the same time attend to two objects. --Jer. Taylor. 2. To accompany or be present or near at hand, in pursuance of duty; to be ready for service; to wait or be in waiting; -- often followed by on or upon. He was required to attend upon the committee. --Clarendon. 3. (with to) To take charge of; to look after; as, to attend to a matter of business. 4. To wait; to stay; to delay. [Obs.] For this perfection she must yet attend, Till to her Maker she espoused be. --Sir J. Davies. Syn: To {Attend}, {Listen}, {Hearken}. Usage: We attend with a view to hear and learn; we listen with fixed attention, in order to hear correctly, or to consider what has been said; we hearken when we listen with a willing mind, and in reference to obeying.