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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

at·tend       (ə-těnd')  Pronunciation Key  v.   at·tend·ed, at·tend·ing, at·tends v.   tr. To be present at: attended class. To accompany as a circumstance or follow as a result: The speech was attended by wild applause. To accompany or wait upon as a companion or servant. To take care of (a sick person, for example). See Synonyms at tend2. To take charge of: They attended our affairs during our absence. To listen to; heed: attended my every word. Archaic To wait for; expect. v.   intr. To be present. To take care; give attention: We'll attend to that problem later. To apply or direct oneself: attended to their business. To pay attention: attended disinterestedly to the debate. To remain ready to serve; wait. Obsolete To delay or wait. [Middle English attenden, from Old French atendre, from Latin attendere, to heed : ad-, ad- + tendere, to stretch; see ten- in Indo-European roots.] at·tend'er n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
attend 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

attend
verb
1.	be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.; "She attends class regularly"; "I rarely attend services at my church"; "did you go to the meeting?" [ant: miss]
2.	take charge of or deal with; "Could you see about lunch?"; "I must attend to this matter"; "She took care of this business"
3.	to accompany as a circumstance or follow as a result; "Menuhin's playing was attended by a 15-minute standing ovation"
4.	work for or be a servant to; "May I serve you?"; "She attends the old lady in the wheelchair"; "Can you wait on our table, please?"; "Is a salesperson assisting you?"; "The minister served the King for many years" [syn: serve]
5.	give heed (to); "The children in the audience attended the recital quietly"; "She hung on his every word"; "They attended to everything he said"

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Attend

At*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attended; p. pr. & vb. n. Attending.] [OE. atenden, OF. atendre, F. attendre, to expect, to wait, fr. L. attendre to stretch, (sc. animum), to apply the mind to; ad + tendere to stretch. See Tend.]

1. To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to; to regard. [Obs.]

The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskillful words of the passenger. --Sir P. Sidney.

2. To care for; to look after; to take charge of; to watch over.

3. To go or stay with, as a companion, nurse, or servant; to visit professionally, as a physician; to accompany or follow in order to do service; to escort; to wait on; to serve.

The fifth had charge sick persons to attend. --Spenser.

Attends the emperor in his royal court. --Shak.

With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither. --Macaulay.

4. To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects.

What cares must then attend the toiling swain. --Dryden.

5. To be present at; as, to attend church, school, a concert, a business meeting.

6. To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for. [Obs.]

The state that attends all men after this. --Locke.

Three days I promised to attend my doom. --Dryden.

Syn: To Attend, Mind, Regard, Heed, Notice.

Usage: Attend is generic, the rest are specific terms. To mind is to attend so that it may not be forgotten; to regard is to look on a thing as of importance; to heed is to attend to a thing from a principle of caution; to notice is to think on that which strikes the senses. --Crabb. See Accompany.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Attend

At*tend"\, v. i. 1. To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive, understand, or comply; to pay regard; to heed; to listen; -- usually followed by to.

Attend to the voice of my supplications. --Ps. lxxxvi. 6.

Man can not at the same time attend to two objects. --Jer. Taylor.

2. To accompany or be present or near at hand, in pursuance of duty; to be ready for service; to wait or be in waiting; -- often followed by on or upon.

He was required to attend upon the committee. --Clarendon.

3. (with to) To take charge of; to look after; as, to attend to a matter of business.

4. To wait; to stay; to delay. [Obs.]

For this perfection she must yet attend, Till to her Maker she espoused be. --Sir J. Davies.

Syn: To Attend, Listen, Hearken.

Usage: We attend with a view to hear and learn; we listen with fixed attention, in order to hear correctly, or to consider what has been said; we hearken when we listen with a willing mind, and in reference to obeying.