Attendee

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who is present at a meeting, conference, or other gathering
2. Someone who takes part by being physically present at an organized event
3. An individual participating by showing up at a social or formal occasion

Etymology: The word "attendee" is a plain formation: "attend" plus the suffix "-ee," which marks the person who receives an action. An attendee is therefore the one who is attended, though the sense has shifted over time to mean someone who attends. The suffix itself came into English through Anglo-Norman and Old French, from Latin "-atus," and reached modern English by way of Middle English "-ee," which was used for such recipient nouns. The base verb "attend" traces to Latin "attendere," meaning to stretch or direct toward, and passed into English through Old French "attendre." Its earliest senses concerned giving care or attention to someone, and "attendee" emerged later as a more explicit label for someone present at an event, a meeting, or a gathering.

Synonyms: participant, guest