attending

[uh-ten-ding]

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adjective (of a physician)

having primary responsibility for a patient.

holding a staff position in an accredited hospital.

Origin of attending

First recorded in 1580–90; attend + -ing²

Related formswell-at·tend·ing, adjective

attend

[uh-tend]

verb (used with object)

to be present at: to attend a lecture; to attend church.

to go with as a concomitant or result; accompany: Fever may attend a cold. Success attended her hard work.

to take care of; minister to; devote one's services to: The nurse attended the patient daily.

to wait upon; accompany as a companion or servant: The retainers attended their lord.

to take charge of; watch over; look after; tend; guard: to attend one's health.

to listen to; give heed to.

Archaic. to wait for; expect.

verb (used without object)

to take care or charge: to attend to a sick person.

to apply oneself: to attend to one's work.

to pay attention; listen or watch attentively; direct one's thought; pay heed: to attend to a speaker.

to be present: She is a member but does not attend regularly.

to be present and ready to give service; wait (usually followed by on or upon): to attend upon the Queen.

to follow; be consequent (usually followed by on or upon).

Obsolete. to wait.

Origin of attend

1250–1300; Middle English atenden < Anglo-French, Old French atendre < Latin attendere to bend to, notice. See at-, tend¹

Related formsat·tend·er, nounat·tend·ing·ly, adverbwell-at·tend·ed, adjective

Synonym study

4. See accompany.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for attending

attendant, ministering, ministrant

Examples from the Web for attending

Contemporary Examples of attending

Lawrence, 43, entered the filmmaking world while attending film school at Loyola Marymount University.
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November 23, 2014
During the summer of 2013, I had the pleasure of attending a taping of The Colbert Report.
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November 20, 2014
After graduating high school, he attending the University of Virginia, double-majoring in economics and foreign relations.
Ben McKenzie’s Journey From Reluctant Teen Idol on ‘The O.C.’ to Sheriff of ‘Gotham’
Marlow Stern
November 4, 2014
Also attending was Regan, who told investigators the president had been “crestfallen” at hearing about the diversion.
How the Reagan White House Bungled Its Response to Iran-Contra Revelations
Malcolm Byrne
November 3, 2014
We have weekly Monday meetings, but every day is different, from attending meetings to giving design directions, on and on.
Q&A With Designer Rachel Roy
Cynthia Allum
November 3, 2014

Historical Examples of attending

The staff had fallen into the way of attending Wilson's operations.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
And as it's a great funeral, thirteen priests will be there, attending.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
McBain was in the quarters attending to the detail which fell to his lot.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
During the past two months I have been attending a number of Conventions.
The Ministry of Intercession
Andrew Murray
We were alone, Effie was attending to her plants in the conservatory.
Graham's Magazine Vol. XXXII No. 2. February 1848
Various

British Dictionary definitions for attending

attend

verb

to be present at (an event, meeting, etc)

(when intr, foll by to) to give care; minister

(when intr, foll by to) to pay attention; listen

(tr; often passive) to accompany or followa high temperature attended by a severe cough

(intr; foll by on or upon) to follow as a consequence (of)

(intr foll by to) to devote one's time; apply oneselfto attend to the garden

(tr) to escort or accompany

(intr; foll by on or upon) to wait (on); serve; provide for the needs (of)to attend on a guest

(tr) archaic to wait for; expect

(intr) obsolete to delay

Derived Formsattender, noun

Word Origin for attend

C13: from Old French atendre, from Latin attendere to stretch towards, from tendere to extend

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for attending

attend

c.1300, "to direct one's mind or energies," from Old French atendre (12c., Modern French attendre) "to expect, wait for, pay attention," and directly from Latin attendere "give heed to," literally "to stretch toward," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + tendere "stretch" (see tenet). The notion is of "stretching" one's mind toward something. Sense of "take care of, wait upon" is from early 14c. Meaning "to pay attention" is early 15c.; that of "to be in attendance" is mid-15c. Related: Attended; attending.