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.
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.
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.