[ad. L. attentiōn-em, n. of action f. attendĕre to ATTEND. Used by Chaucer in transl. from Latin, then not found till c. 1600; not in Fr. till 16th c.]
1. The action, fact, or state of attending or giving heed; earnest direction of the mind, consideration or regard; esp. in phr. to pay or give attention. The mental power or faculty of attending; esp. with attract, call, draw, arrest, fix, etc.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. i. 29. After þat she hadde gadred … myn attencioun she seide þus.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 6. The tongues of dying men Inforce attention.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 618. Attention held them mute.
1771. Junius Lett., xlix. 253. The attention I should have paid to your failings.
1871. Smiles, Charac., i. (1876), 21. They still arrest the attention.
1878. Seeley, Stein, III. 478. He marked with attention all that appeared from other pens.
b. Metaph. (See quot.)
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xix. (1695), 119. When the Ideas that offer themselves are taken notice of, and, as it were, registred in the Memory, it is Attention.
1762. Kames, Elem. Crit. (1833), 483. Attention is that state of mind which prepares one to receive impression.
1838. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, xxx. II. 136. Attention is the voluntary direction of the mind upon an object, with the intention of fully apprehending it.
2. Practical consideration, observant care, notice.
1741. Chesterf., Lett., 77. I. 213. They have attention to every thing, and always mind what they are about.
1816. F. Naylor, Hist. Germ., I. II. xv. 775, note. To soften the rude manners of an uncultivated people by a benignant attention to their morals.
1882. Daily Tel., 4 May, 4/2 (Markets) Oats met with a moderate amount of attention at Monday’s prices.
3. The action of attending to the comfort and pleasure of others; ceremonious politeness, courtesy. Often in pl. spec. To pay attention or one’s attentions to: to court.
1752. Chesterf., Lett., 285, III. 305. Nice and scrupulous, in points of ceremony, respect, and attention. Ibid. (1774), 26, I. 96. A well-bred man … takes care that his attentions for you be not troublesome.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, ii. 18. To ‘pay attention,’ as they say, to some young lady.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. ii. 25. Philip received all the attentions which an elegant hospitality could devise.
† 4. A matter of attention, a consideration. rare.
1784. J. Barry, Lect. Art, iv. (1848), 156. Distances, lines, angles, and other mechanical subordinate attentions. Ibid., v. 185. The chiaroscuro and the other attentions of the composition should be calculated.
5. ‘A cautionary word used as a preparative to any particular exercise or manœuvre.’ C. James, Mil. Dict. To come to attention: to assume a prepared military attitude; so to stand at attention.
1820. Combe (Dr. Syntax), Consol., I. 145. He attention’s look display’d As he was wont on war’s parade.
1833. Reg. Instr. Cavalry, I. 10. On the word Attention, the hands are to fall smartly upon the outside of the thighs; the right heel to be brought up in a line with the left; and the proper unconstrained position of a soldier … resumed.
1870. Daily News, 1 Oct., 6/2. He [yonder sergeant of Zouaves] smokes placidly whilst chatting with a Prussian dragoon, and comes promptly to attention when an officer addresses him.
