əˈtend also aˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English attenden, from Old French atendre, from Latin attendere to stretch, apply the mind to, from ad- + tendere to stretch — more at thin
transitive verb
1. : to direct the attention to : fix the mind upon : give heed to : listen to
attend the warning of the soothsayer
attend my words
2. : to look after : take charge of : watch over the working of
the prisoners were attended by guards
3. archaic
a. : to wait for
three days I promised to attend my doom — John Dryden
b. : to be in store for
the state that attends all men after this — John Locke
4. : to go or stay with as a companion, nurse, or servant : visit professionally as a physician : accompany in order to do service : escort : wait on
fawning ministers who attend the king
5. obsolete : to follow up : conjoin , associate
6. : to be present with : accompany : be united or consequent to
the immense amount of work that has attended the creation of these lists — C.C.Fries & A.A.Traver
what cares must then attend the toiling swain — John Dryden
7. : to be present at : go to
attend a meeting
attend college
intransitive verb
1. : to direct one's energies : apply oneself
attend to your work
attend strictly to business
2. : to apply the mind or pay attention with a view to perceiving, understanding, or complying : pay regard : heed , listen — usually followed by to
one is lucky to meet six or seven people who know how to attend ; the rest have fidgety ears — J.M.Barzun
attend to the voice of my supplications — Ps 86:6(Authorized Version)
3. : to be present or near at hand in pursuance of duty
the good lord was dismissed, and has not attended in the drawing room since — Mary W. Montagu
: be ready for service : wait or be in waiting — often used with on or upon
ministers who attend upon the king
4. obsolete : wait , stay , delay — often used with for
5. : to direct one's care : see — used with to
producers should attend to the following important aspects of marketing — Farmer's Weekly ( South Africa )