attend

 
Pronunciation: /əˈtɛnd/

verb

[with object]
  • 1be present at (an event, meeting, or function): the whole sales force attended the conference [no object]: her family were not invited to attend
  • go regularly to (a school, church, or clinic): all children are required to attend school
  • 2 [no object] (attend to) deal with: he muttered that he had business to attend to
  • give practical help and care to; look after: the severely wounded had two medics to attend to their wounds [with object]: each of the beds in the intensive-care unit is attended by a nurse
  • pay attention to: Alice hadn’t attended to a word of his sermon
  • 3escort and wait on (a member of royalty or other important person): Her Royal Highness was attended by Mrs Jane Stevens
  • 4occur with or as a result of: people feared that the switch to a peacetime economy would be attended by a severe slump

Derivatives

attender

noun

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'apply one's mind or energies to'): from Old French atendre, from Latin attendere, from ad- 'to' + tendere 'stretch'