Forms: 4–6 atende, 5–6 attende, 6– attend. Aphetic 4– TEND. [a. OF. atendre (mod. att-):—L. at-, adtendĕre, f. ad to + tendĕre to stretch: see AT- pref.2]
Prim. sign. To stretch to (still in OFr.); hence, to direct the mind or observant faculties, to listen, apply oneself; to watch over, minister to, wait upon, follow, frequent; to wait for, await, expect. In almost every variety of meaning it is, or has been, both trans. and intr., the latter construed with to, unto, on, upon, and having indirect passive, as: we must attend to this, this must be attended to.
I. To direct the ears, mind, energies to anything.
1. To turn one’s ear to, listen to. a. trans. arch.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21803. Qua-sum þe tale can better a-tend.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. x. Argt. Into this nixt cheptur ȝe may attend Off Priame King of Troy the fatale end.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., I. vi. 142. I do condemne mine eares that haue So long attended thee.
1715. Pope, Iliad, I. 510. But, goddess! thou thy suppliant son attend.
1808. Scott, Marmion, V. xxi. My tale Attend.
b. intr. (Const. to, unto.)
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, Introd. 3. As they shul heryn wych lyst attende.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. i. 13. Your Grace attended to their Sugred words.
1611. Bible, Ps. xvii. 1. O Lord, attend vnto my crie.
1715. Pope, Iliad, I. 61. Thus Chryses pray’d: the favouring power attends.
1842. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., VI. xx. 318. Every one must … attend his best.
2. To turn the mind to, give consideration or pay heed to, regard, consider. † a. trans. Obs.
1432–50. trans. Higden (1865), I. 47. Hit is to be attendede that alle the worlde … is diuided in to iij. partes.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm., 45. If they see a fault, they will it not attende.
a. 1644. Quarles, Sol. Recant., v. i. 22. Attend thy footsteps when thou drawest near The house of God.
1775. Trumbull, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), I. 5. I shall … attend your request.
b. intr. with to.
1678. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, III. 121. Some said … that the action of sin was not from God; attending to the very deformity of sin, which is not from God.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 262, ¶ 9. Beauties or Imperfections which others have not attended to.
1852. McCulloch, Taxation, I. iv. 135. Were the justice of the case only attended to.
† 3. To attend from: to turn the mind from, beware of. (L. attendere ab.) Obs. rare.
c. 1375. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. 1869, I. 223. [Crist] biddiþ attende from false prophetes [Vulg. Matt. vii. 15 Attendite a falsis prophetis].
4. To turn the energies to, give practical heed to, apply oneself to, look after. † a. trans. Obs.
a. 1400. Cov. Myst., 259. To provyde, Lord, for thi comyng, With alle the obedeyns we kan atende.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 7. If a man attende not his husbandrye, but goo to sporte or playe.
1649. Selden, Laws of Eng., II. xiii. (1739), 69. That himself might attend his own security.
1715. Pope, Iliad, III. 527. The maids … dispersing, various tasks attend.
1798. W. Taylor, in Month. Rev., XXV. 578. The agriculture is every where sedulously attended.
b. intr. with to.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 82. Gode atende to my socour.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxii. 207. Ȝif thow attenden wilt to his servise.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.), I. iv. (1506), 46. Unto that attendeth well the deuyll.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Manch. Strike, vi. 65. She was attending very diligently to her work.
1853. A. J. Morris, Relig. & Business, vi. 127. Worldly affairs are attended to at the cost of men’s salvation.
† c. with upon. Obs.
1611. Bible, Rom. xiii. 6. They are Gods ministers, attending continually vpon this very thing.
1689. Burnet, Tracts, I. 79. Captains … are not obliged to attend upon the Service.
† d. with inf. To apply oneself, endeavor. Obs.
1523. Whitinton, Vulg., 1. Yf a carpenter without compasse, rule, lyne, and plummet sholde attende to square tymbre.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, III. ii. First, he attends to build a strong conceipt Of his usurped powre.
† e. with subord. cl. To give heed, take care, look.
1612. Monipennie, Chron., in Misc. Scot., I. 38. The Scots were very … vigilant all night, and attended that their enemies should not escape.
II. To watch over, wait upon, with service, accompany as servant, go with, be present at.
5. To direct one’s care to; to take care or charge of, look after, TEND, guard. † a. trans. arch. or Obs.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 511. It wol thyne oxen mende … yf thai the fyre attende.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., I. vi. 197. They are in a Trunke Attended by my men.
1641. R. B. K., Liturgy & Mass-Bk., Pref. 1. Another quarter of our walls, which to him appeared more weake and lesse attended.
1725. Pope, Odyss., III. 538. Leave only two the gally to attend.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. i. 10. They attend their lamps with assiduous care.
b. intr. with to.
1796. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 199. This will enable me better to attend to all the services.
1850. Lytton, My Novel, III. xvi. The clergyman had his own flock to attend to.
6. trans. To apply oneself to the care or service of (a person); esp. to watch over and wait upon, to minister to (the sick). Of a medical man: To pay professional visits to (a patient).
1572. Forrest, Theoph., 244. A bushoppe … havinge great numbers to pasture … which to his powre he attended.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 41. The fift had charge sick persons to attend.
1722. De Foe, Plague, 82. Hired nurses who attended infected people.
1732. Pope, Mor. Ess., III. 270. Prescribes, attends, the med’cine makes, and gives.
1832. Babbage, Econ. Manuf., xv. 141. The chemist … never attends his customers.
7. To wait upon, as servant or attendant; also, to wait upon (a personage) in obedience to an authoritative summons.
1469. Paston Lett., 614, II. 360. Attendid as wurshepfully as evir was Quene a forn hir.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. iii. 27. His companion … Attends the Emperour in his royall Court.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 546. The Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs of London were also summoned to attend the King.
b. intr. To be present in readiness for service, or in answer to an authoritative summons.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm., 47. Rebukes … For not attending and fayling of thy tide.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 539. Officious Nymphs, attending in a Ring.
c. with on, upon (formerly of).
? 1499. Plumpton, Corr., 135. If it please you … to appoynt fryday or satterday … I shall then attend of you.
a. 1547. Earl Surrey, Æneid, IV. (R.). And at the threshold of her chamber dore, The Carthage lords did on the quene attend.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. II. (1707), 295 (J.). He was presently required to attend upon the Committee.
1808. Scott, Marmion, I. viii. Twenty yeomen … Attended on their lord’s behest.
8. To follow, escort, or accompany, for the purpose of rendering services. (Used specifically of those who act as ladies or gentlemen in waiting to royal personages.) a. trans.
1653. Walton, Angler, Ep. Ded. 3. If common Anglers should attend you, and be eye-witnesses of the success.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 115, ¶ 10. Permission to attend her to publick places.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. ii. 21. The Portuguese infanta … was attended by a numerous train of nobles.
1883. Times, 13 Feb., 10/1 Their Royal Highnesses … left for London this morning, attended by Mdlle. Heim.
b. intr. with on, upon; and absol.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 121. Wee’ll both attend vpon your Ladiship.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., V. i. 66. Trip Audry, trip Audry, I attend, I attend.
1619. Treas. Anc. & Mod. Times, II. 516/2. So [the Queene] attended upon with the Nobilitie, came downe.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, VII. xxx. Following the deep-veil’d Bride Fifty female slaves attend.
1883. G. Macdonald, Sir Gibbie, II. v. 84. Attending on drunk people and helping them home.
9. Mil. and Naut. To accompany or wait upon for hostile purposes, so as to defeat an enemy’s plans. (trans., and intr. with to.)
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. II. (1732), 468 (J.). He was … strong enough to have stopped, or attended Waller in his Western Expedition.
1804. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), V. 484. Cruizing off Cadiz for the purpose of attending to L’Aigle, and securing the approach of our Convoy. Ibid. (1805), ibid., VII. 59. I hear the Enemy [has three vessels of war]…. If this is so, a force is necessary of Line-of-Battle Ships and Frigates to attend them.
10. Of things: To follow closely upon, to accompany. (Now only of things immaterial.) a. trans.
1615. Markham, Eng. Housew., Pref. My poor prayers shall to my last gasp labour to attend you.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 422. What Cares must then attend the toiling Swain.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 449, ¶ 3. With a Frankness that always attends unfeigned Virtue.
1751. Fielding, Amelia, II. vi. Wks. 1784, VIII. 239. Our food was attended with some ale.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 18. 130. The loss of our track would be attended with imminent peril.
b. intr. with on, upon.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. ii. 134. All feares attending on so dire a project.
a. 1847. R. Hamilton, Rew. & Punishm., iv. (1853), 149. Destruction and misery attend on wicked doings.
† 11. causal. To follow up, accompany, conjoin, associate (one thing with another). Obs.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxiii. § 7. [I] have also attended them with brief observations.
1748. Anson, Voy., II. xiii. 278. The Governor … had returned a very obliging answer … and had attended it with a present of two boats.
1775. Burke, Sp. Conc. Amer., Wks. III. 64. We have carefully attended every settlement with government.
12. To present oneself, for the purpose of taking some part in the proceedings, at a meeting for business, worship, instruction, entertainment. a. trans. e.g., to attend church, school, a lecture, a meeting, a funeral, the sittings of a court, also a place of worship.
1646. Row, Hist. Kirk, Introd. (1842), 17. I had bein in Edinburgh … attending his Majestie’s Counsell.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), I. 177/1. Pericles also attended the lectures of Zeno.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. iii. Andreas too attended Church.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 177. It was made a crime to attend a dissenting place of worship.
1884. Edin. Daily Rev., 18 Oct., 2/9. The meeting was attended by some of the leading agriculturists.
Mod. Did you attend the funeral? To attend school regularly.
b. intr. Const., on the proceedings (obs.), at the place.
1660. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 35/2. [They] attended on his Funerals.
1764. Reid, Wks., I. 40/1. They pay fees for the first two years, and then they … may attend gratis.
Mod. He attends regularly at the City Temple.
III. To wait for, await, expect.
13. trans. To look out for, wait for, await: † a. a person or agent, or his coming. Obs.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 30 b. They sette hem in araye … and attended frely and fast a rote the preu Jason.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., 104. To stand still in their places, and so to attend their enimies.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., iv. (1736), 45. Contriving their Bodies … to attend the Return of their Souls.
1749. Smollett, Regic., II. i. (1777), 26. Here I attend The king—and lo! he comes.
b. a future time, event, result, decision, etc. arch.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge (1848), 39. Attendynge oportunyte to take them in a trayne.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 358. They must attend the moving of the waters.
1713. Addison, Cato, II. i. 9. And Rome attends her fate from our resolves.
1866. Howells, Venet. Life, 128. The countryman, taking shelter at the stern of his boat, attended the shot.
† c. ellipt. with clause: To wait to see or learn, to await the issue. Obs.
1589. Late Voy. Sp. & Port. (1881), 82. Attending if any strangers would unburthen them.
1695. Temple, Introd. Hist. Eng., 124. And attended, what would be the Issue of this strong and violent Convulsion of the State.
† 14. fig. (Of things.) To remain for, be reserved for, be in store for, ‘await.’ a. trans. Obs.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. 1653, 3. The Trapan … onely attendeth the Fractures of the Cranium.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxi. 127 (J.). Who hath a prospect of the different State of perfect Happiness, or Misery that attends all Men after this Life.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), I. 72. The prize attended the victor.
† b. intr. with for. Obs.
1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, Pref. 4. Would you now in your old daies be an Emperor, considering that your Sepulchre attendeth for you?
† 15. To look forward to, expect. a. trans. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 162/2. The grete prouffite that he attended of hym.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Agric. (1622), 191. The souldier … attended an end for that yeere of his trauell.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. V. iii. § 14. 430. The Capuans relying on … the succours attended from Hannibal.
1692. Ray, Disc., II. v. (1732), 285. So dreadful a Tempest that all the People attended therein the very End of the World.
† b. intr. with for. Obs. rare.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Agric. (1622), 195. The Britans … attending for nothing els but reuenge or seruitude.
† 16. intr. To wait, tarry, stay. Obs.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 260 a. They would … attende, vntyl suche tyme as the Emperour had aduertised them.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., ii. (1628), 36. Attending at the sea ports … for conuenient winds.
1736. Col. Rec. Penn., IV. 98. The two Members … now attending for an Answer.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), I. 30. The lady attended as if she expected I should go on.
† b. fig. Of things. Obs.
1596. Edw. III., I. ii. Albeit my business urgeth me, It shall attend while I attend on thee.
† IV. trans. To intend. Obs. [So OF. atendre, occas. for entendre. Cf. ATTENT.]
1455. Paston Lett., 239, I. 331. They never attendyde hurt to his owne persone.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., IX. § 1 (1669), 184/2. Very unlikely to do real good to the souls: alas, it is not that he attends.
