Also 4–6 attendaunce, 5 atendans, -ance, 6 attendans. [a. OF. atendance, f. atendre: see ATTEND v. and -ANCE.]
† 1. The action or condition of applying one’s mind or observant faculties to something; = ATTENTION I. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 339. No thing askith so grete attendaunces, As doth your lay.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 1306. My lugges anon gyffe a-tendans.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, V. (1822), 453. The Gaulis gaif sic attendance to him, that he wes notit and knawin to all thare armye.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 6. Men generally think that … attendance vnto the word, is for old age.
1790. Cath. M. Graham, Lett. Educ., 56. I would advise the tutor however not to press his young pupil to give attendance, when he is eagerly engaged with some other favourite pursuit.
† 2. The action or condition of turning one’s energies to; assiduous effort; = ATTENTION 2. Obs.
c. 1400. Maundev., xxii. 232. Every man ȝeveth … so gode attendance to his servyse.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. (1822), 447. And tuke mare attendance and care to ordoure thame.
1674. Owen, Holy Spirit (1693), 103. Commands for our Attendance unto such Duties.
3. The action or condition of waiting upon, accompanying, or escorting a person, to do him service; ministration, assiduous service. In attendance: waiting upon, attending.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s T., 77. A man shall winne us best with flaterie; And with attendance … Ben we ylimed.
c. 1400. Epiph. (Turnb., 1843), 114. Or wer ther any ladees hur abowte … Or maydons doyng any attendaunce.
1598. R. T[ofte], in Shaks. C. Praise, 25. Giving attendance on my froward Dame.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 246. Why might not you, my lord, receiue attendance From those that she cals Seruants.
1745. De Foe, Eng. Tradesm., I. xxii. 208. Reputation for … attendance on his customers.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. iii. (1857), 54. The lords and ladies in attendance gathered round the queen.
1860. Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., vi. Your waiter reproachfully reminds you that ‘attendance is not charged for a single meal.’
fig. 1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., iv. 75. The malign emotions are found in close attendance.
4. The action or condition of an inferior in waiting the leisure, convenience, or decision of a superior.
c. 1461. Paston Lett., 423, II. 67. He wole gef a tendance unto you for to have summe letter from you.
1542. Brinklow, Complaynt, xviii. (1874), 42. How long shal men wayte and geue attendance vpon rulers, before thei can come to the spech of them!
1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 108, ¶ 10. Compelled by want to attendance and solicitation.
1821. Combe (Dr. Syntax), Wife, I. 264. The poor are neuer seen to wait In vain attendance at their gate.
5. In senses 3, 4 the phrases To wait attendance (obs.), To dance attendance, occur = ‘to attend’; the latter usually with some shade of sarcasm or contempt.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 166. He daunceth attendance.
1590. Marlowe, Edw. II., I. iv. Nobles … That wait attendance for a gracious look.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. ii. II. iv. Shut him out of doors once or twice, let him dance attendance.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Com. View, Wks. 1730, I. 164. Why should the loadstone complain of the iron for not dancing attendance after it.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, lvi. 477. What was he about dancing attendance here?
6. The action of coming or fact of being present, in answer to a summons, or to take part in public business, entertainment, instruction, worship, etc.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 112. Nedyn not to have grete Wag[e]s for their Attendaunce to this Conceile.
1658. Whole Duty Man, xi. § 12 (1683), 90. The many attendances the creditor is put to in pursuit of it.
1725. Pope, Odyss., VIII. 12. The King in council your attendance waits.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. i. 5. Charles … sent to require his son’s attendance at Brussels.
1876. Green, Short Hist., vii. § 6 (1882), 401. The Catholics withdrew from attendance at the national worship.
Mod. The number of attendances recorded in the School Register.
† 7. Waiting, delay. Obs.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, IV. iii. § v. 492. Compelled … to put the matter in hazard without further attendance.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, 71. Spring-woods … have been let rest till … thirty years, and have prov’d highly worth the attendance.
† 8. Waiting for, expectation. Obs.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. (1611), 277 (J.). That which causeth bitternesse in death is the languishing attendance and expectation thereof ere it come.
a. 1641. Finett, Philoxenis (1656), 164. Resting … in attendance of their Lords Plate, not yet come.
† 9. A body of attendants, train of servants, retinue. Obs.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 228. Two or three of her attendance looked out.
1696. Luttrell, Brief Rel., IV. 44. The Venetian ambassadors, with an attendance of about 40 noblemen.
1779. Johnson, L. P., Pope (1787), IV. 91. So many wants, that a numerous attendance was scarcely able to supply them.
10. The body or number of persons present to take part in any proceedings.
1835. J. Wilson, in Life (1878), iii. 89. The attendance at the stated services of the mission is greater than … ever.
1882. Daily Tel., 17 May, 3/6. A greatly increased interest in the match should be represented yesterday by a greatly increased attendance.
11. Comb., as attendance-officer, one whose duty it is to see that children attend school.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 17 June, 1/2. A blind eye … should be an indispensable qualification in an attendance officer.
