a. Obs. exc. dial. Also 45 -if(e, -yf, 6 -yue. [a. OF. tentif (14th c. in Godef.), aphetic form of F. atentif; or aphetic form of INTENTIVE and (in later use) ATTENTIVE.] = ATTENTIVE.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 149 (Harl. MS.). As to warisching of ȝoure douȝter we schullen do so tentyf [v.r. ententif] besynes fro day to night þat sche schal be hool.
a. 1400[?]. Catos Mor., 337, in Cursor M., p. 1673. Loke þou be tentife, if þou haue lered alle þi life.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xxiii. 66. With tentyue eir vnto my taill attend.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 43. Wyth tentiue lystning eeche wight was setled in harckning.
1791. J. Learmont, Poems, 329 (E.D.D.). Nouther partys tentive how to please.
1902. R. M. Gilchrist, Natives of Milton, 97. Yore as tentive an as capable as onyone could be.
So Tentively adv. = ATTENTIVELY; Tentiveness = ATTENTIVENESS.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2258. Ȝif ȝe *tentifly take kepe & trewe be to-gadere. Ibid., 5124. But tentyfli þow help, þat al þis lond be lad in lawe as it ouȝt.
1438. Rolls of Parlt., V. 439/1. Thei put tentiflye their hole labours and diligences for his worship.
1876. Whitby Gloss., Tentifly, with attention.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. xii. 20. If forsothe the enemys of thi seruauns, with so myche *tentifnesse, thou tormentedist, and deliueredest.
1610. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow), 556. Want of skill, tentivnes, faithfulness and guid effectioune.