Attend — Defs

01 v. t. To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to; to regard.

imp. & p. p. Attended; p. pr. & vb. n. Attending

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.

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.

02 v. i. To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive, understand, or comply; to pay regard; to heed; to listen; -- usually followed…

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.

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.