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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskillful words of the passenger. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To care for; to look after; to take charge of; to watch over. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fifth had charge sick persons to attend. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Attends the emperor in his royal court. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects. [ 1913 Webster ]

What cares must then attend the toiling swain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To be present at; as, to attend church, school, a concert, a business meeting. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The state that attends all men after this. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Three days I promised to attend my doom. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Attend, Mind, Regard, Heed, Notice. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Attend to the voice of my supplications. Ps. lxxxvi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man can not at the same time attend to two objects. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was required to attend upon the committee. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (with to) To take charge of; to look after; as, to attend to a matter of business. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To wait; to stay; to delay. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For this perfection she must yet attend,
Till to her Maker she espoused be. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Attend, Listen, Hearken. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. attendance, OF. atendance, fr. atendre, F. attendre. See Attend, v. t. ] 1. Attention; regard; careful application. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Till I come, give attendance to reading. 1 Tim. iv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of attending; state of being in waiting; service; ministry; the fact of being present; presence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Constant attendance at church three times a day. Fielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Waiting for; expectation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Languishing attendance and expectation of death. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The persons attending; a retinue; attendants. [ 1913 Webster ]

If your stray attendance by yet lodged. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of attending or accompanying; attendance; an attendant. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. attendant, p. pr. of attendre. See Attend, v. t. ] 1. Being present, or in the train; accompanying; in waiting. [ 1913 Webster ]

From the attendant flotilla rang notes triumph. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cherub and Seraph . . . attendant on their Lord. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Accompanying, connected with, or immediately following, as consequential; consequent; as, intemperance with all its attendant evils. [ 1913 Webster ]

The natural melancholy attendant upon his situation added to the gloom of the owner of the mansion. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Depending on, or owing duty or service to; as, the widow attendant to the heir. Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Attendant keys (Mus.), the keys or scales most nearly related to, or having most in common with, the principal key; those, namely, of its fifth above, or dominant, its fifth below (fourth above), or subdominant, and its relative minor or major. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who attends or accompanies in any character whatever, as a friend, companion, servant, agent, or suitor. “A train of attendants.” Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who is present and takes part in the proceedings; as, an attendant at a meeting. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which accompanies; a concomitant. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ A ] sense of fame, the attendant of noble spirits. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) One who owes duty or service to, or depends on, another. Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Intent. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, attends. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. atendement. ] An attendant circumstance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The uncomfortable attendments of hell. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Attention; heed. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]