Attend

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /əˈtɛnd/

Definitions

1. To be present at an event, meeting, or gathering, or to pay attention to something
2. To be involved in a specific event or activity, or to give one's focus and consideration to a particular subject or matter
3. To show presence at a designated occasion or to actively listen and engage with information being presented

Etymology: Latin "attendere" was built from "ad-", meaning "to" or "towards", and "tendere", meaning "to stretch" or "to direct one's course". To attend was originally to stretch your mind or attention toward something, and that physical image of reaching out survives in the modern sense of paying attention. The word passed through Old French "atendre", which meant "to await, wait for; to expect; to intend", before entering English in Middle English as "attenden" and "atenden". Those early English senses were wide: devoting oneself to a task, looking after someone, serving a superior, or expecting something to happen. The sense of being present at an event came later and grew out of the idea of turning up to serve or accompany someone. "Attempt" and "tend" are doublets of this word, all three descending from the same Latin verb through different routes into English.

Synonyms: participate, join, be present, assist, listen

Antonyms: miss, ignore, neglect, overlook, shun