Etymology dictionary
atelier (n.) — attention (n.)
atelier (n.)
"workshop," especially the workroom or studio of a sculptor or painter, 1840, from French atelier "workshop," from Old French astelier "(carpenter's) workshop, woodpile" (14c.), from astele "piece of wood, a shaving, splinter," which is probably from Late Latin hastella "a thin stick," diminutive of hasta "spear, shaft" (see yard (n.2)).
atelo-
word-forming element meaning "imperfect development or structure," from Greek atelēs "imperfect, incomplete," literally "without an end," from a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + telos "the end, fulfillment, completion" (see telos).
atemporal (adj.)
"timeless," 1870, from a- (3) "not" + temporal (adj.1)). Related: Atemporally.
Aten
a name of the sun in ancient Egypt, from Egyptian itn.
*ater-
*āter-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "fire." It forms all or part of: atrabiliary; atrabilious; atrium; atrocious.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Old Persian atar "fire;" Latin ater "black" ("blackened by fire"), atrox "frightful" ("of fiery or threatening appearance").
Athabaskan
also Athabascan, Athapaskan, 1844 as a language name, from the name of the widespread family of North American Indian languages, from Lake Athabaska in northern Alberta, Canada, from Woods Cree (Algonquian) Athapaskaw, literally "(where) there are plants one after another" [Bright], referring to the delta region west of the lake. The languages are spoken across a wide area of Alaska and sub-arctic Canada and include Apachean (including Navajo) in the U.S. southwest.
athame (n.)
1954, a knife used in Wiccan rituals, term first appearing in the works of Gerald Gardner (1884-1964). Ultimately from a mistranscription of Medieval Latin artavus, "knife" in Solomonic grimoires.
Athanasian (adj.)
1580s, "pertaining to Athanasius" (c. 296-373), bishop of Alexandria in the reign of Constantine. The name is Latin, from Greek Athanasios, from athanatos "immortal," from a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + thanatos "death" (see thanatology). The anti-Arian creed attributed to him was perhaps not his work.
atheism (n.)
"the doctrine that there is no God;" "disbelief in any regularity in the universe to which man must conform himself under penalties" [J.R. Seeley, "Natural Religion," 1882], 1580s, from French athéisme (16c.), with -ism + Greek atheos "without a god, denying the gods," from a- "without" (see a- (3)) + theos "a god" (from PIE root *dhes-, forming words for religious concepts). A slightly earlier form is represented by atheonism (1530s) which is perhaps from Italian atheo "atheist." Also compare atheous. The ancient Greek noun was atheotēs "ungodliness."
In late 19c. it was sometimes further distinguished into secondary senses: "The denial of theism, that is, of the doctrine that the great first cause is a supreme, intelligent, righteous person" [Century Dictionary, 1897] and "practical indifference to and disregard of God, godlessness."
atheist (n.)
1570s, "godless person, one who denies the existence of a supreme, intelligent being to whom moral obligation is due," from French athéiste (16c.), from Greek atheos "without god, denying the gods; abandoned of the gods; godless, ungodly," from a- "without" (see a- (3)) + theos "a god" (from PIE root *dhes-, forming words for religious concepts).
atheistic (adj.)
"involving or characteristic of atheism," 1630s, from atheist + -ic. Atheistical attested from 1580s. Milton used atheous in this sense. Related: Atheistically.
atheling (n.)
"member of a noble family," Old English æðling, from æðel "noble family, race, ancestry; nobility, honor," related to Old English æðele "noble," from Proto-Germanic *athala- (cognates: Old Frisian edila "(great-)grandfather," Old Saxon athali "noble descent, property," Old High German adal "noble family"), which is perhaps from PIE *at-al- "race, family," from *at(i)- "over, beyond, super" + *al- "to nourish." With suffix -ing "belonging to." A common Germanic word, cognates include Old Saxon ediling, Old Frisian etheling, Old High German adaling.
Athelstan
masc. proper name, Old English Æðelstane, literally "noble stone;" see atheling + stone (n.).
Athens
city of ancient Attica, capital of modern Greece, from Greek Athenai (plural because the city had several distinct parts), traditionally derived from Athena, but probably assimilated from a lost name in a pre-Hellenic language.
Athena
Greek goddess of wisdom, skill in the arts, righteous warfare, etc., from Latin Athena, from Greek Athēnē, name of a common Greek goddess, dating to Minoan times, depicted with a snake and protecting the palace. "Like the goddess itself, the name is pre-Greek" [Beekes]. Identified by the Romans with their Minerva.
Athenaeum (n.)
1727, "temple dedicated to Athena," from Latinized form of Greek Athenaion "the temple of Athene," in ancient Athens, in which professors taught and actors or poets rehearsed; see Athena. The modern meaning "literary club-room or reading room" is from 1799; the sense of "literary or scientific club" is from 1807. These senses are based on the institutions founded by Hadrian at Rome and elsewhere dedicated to literary and scientific studies.
Athenian (n.)
1520s, "native or inhabitant of Athens;" see Athens + -ian. From 1580s as an adjective, "pertaining to Athens." Old English had Atheniense (plural noun), from Latin Atheniensis.
atheous (adj.)
1610s, "godless, impious," from Latin atheus, from Greek atheos, from a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + theos "god" (from PIE root *dhes-, forming words for religious concepts). It is attested from 1880 as "not considering the existence of God, having no reference to God, irrespective of divine existence or power."
athermanous (adj.)
"heat-resistant, impervious to radiant heat," 1839, from a- (3) "not, without" + Greek thermainein "impart heat," from thermos "hot" (see thermal).
atheroma (n.)
"encysted tumor," 1706, medical Latin, from Greek atheroma, from athērē "groats, porridge," in reference to the matter inside; a word of unknown origin. It is sometimes said to be perhaps related to athēr "chaff," but Beekes finds this "neither formally nor semantically plausible." Pliny calls it an Egyptian word. For the ending, see -oma. Related: Athermatous (1670s).
atherosclerosis (n.)
1908, from German atherosklerose (1904), coined by German pathologist Felix Jacob Marchand; see atheroma + sclerosis.
athetosis (n.)
"condition in which the extremities perform slow, involuntary motions" (a form of childhood cerebral palsy), 1871, with -osis + Greek athetos "not fixed, without position or place, set aside," from athetein "to set aside, reject as spurious," from a- "not" (see a- (3))+ tithenai "place, set" (from reduplicated form of PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). Coined by U.S. nerve specialist William Alexander Hammond.
athirst (adj.)
"thirsting, thirsty," late Old English; see a- (1) + thirst (v.).
athlete (n.)
early 15c. (Chauliac), "competitor in athletic games and contests," from Latin athleta "a wrestler, athlete, combatant in public games," from Greek athlētēs "prizefighter, contestant in the games," agent noun from athlein "to contest for a prize," which from athlos "a contest," especially for a prize (its neuter form, athlon, meant "the prize of a contest"), a word of unknown origin.
Until mid-18c. it was usually in English in Latin form. Old English had plegmann "play-man." The meaning "one trained in exercises of agility and strength" is by 1827. Athlete's foot is recorded by 1928, for an ailment that has been around much longer.
athletic (adj.)
1630s (athletical is from 1590s), "pertaining to an athlete or to contests of physical strength," from Latin athleticus, from Greek athletikos, from athlētēs "contestant in the games" (see athlete). The meaning "strong of body; vigorous; lusty; robust" [as defined by Johnson, who spells it athletick] is from 1650s.
athletics (n.)
"art or practice of athletic games or exercises," c. 1730, from athletic; also see -ics. Probably formed on the model of gymnastics.
athleticism (n.)
1835, "devotion to athletics," from athletic + -ism. Also, by late 19c., "physical strength and capability of robust activity."
at-home (n.)
"reception of visitors," 1745, noun use of prepositional phrase at home.
-athon
also -thon, a word-forming element, denoting prolonged activity and usually some measure of endurance, abstracted from marathon (q.v.). Examples include walkathon (1931), skatathon (1933); talkathon (1934); telethon (1949); swimathon (1968).
athrob (adj.)
"in a throbbing state," 1854, from a- (1) + throb (v.). Related: Athrobbing.
athwart (adv.)
"crosswise, from side to side," late 15c., from a- (1) + thwart (v.). In nautical use, "across the line of a ship's course."
atilt (adv.)
"tilted," 1560s, from a- (1) + tilt (v.).
-ation
the end of some nouns of action; see -ate + -ion.
-ative
word-forming element meaning "of or related to; tending to," from Latin -ativus.
Atlas
1580s, in Greek mythology a member of the older family of Gods, later regarded as a Titan, son of Iapetus and Clymene; in either case supposed to uphold the pillars of heaven (or earth), which according to one version was his punishment for being war-leader of the Titans in their battle with the Olympian gods. "Originally the name of an Arcadian mountain god; the name was transferred to the mountain chain in Western Africa" [Beekes].
The Greek name traditionally is interpreted as "The Bearer (of the Heavens)," from a-, copulative prefix (see a- (3)), + stem of tlenai "to bear" (from PIE root *tele- "to lift, support, weigh"). But Beekes compares Berber adrar "mountain" and finds it plausible that the Greek name is a "folk-etymological reshaping" of this. Mount Atlas, in Mauritania, was important in Greek cosmology as a support of the heavens.
atlas (n.)
"collection of maps in a volume," 1636, first in the title of the English translation of "Atlas, sive cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mundi" (1585) by Flemish geographer Gerhardus Mercator, who might have been the first to use this word in this way. A picture of the titan Atlas holding up the world appears on the frontispiece of this and other early map collections.
Atlantic (adj.)
early 15c., Atlantyke, "of or pertaining to the sea off the west coast of Africa," from Latin Atlanticus, from Greek Atlantikos "of Atlas," adjectival form of Atlas (genitive Atlantos) as used in reference to Mount Atlas in Mauritania (see Atlas). The name has been extended since c. 1600 to the ocean between Europe and Africa, on one side, and the Americas on the other. As a noun late 14c., Athlant, from Old French Atlante.
Atlantean (adj.)
1660s, "resembling or pertaining to Atlas" (q.v.). From 1852 as "pertaining to Atlantis" (q.v.).
Atlantis
mythical island-nation, by 1730, from Greek Atlantis, literally "daughter of Atlas," noun use of fem. adjective from Atlas (stem Atlant-; see Atlas). All references trace to Plato's dialogues "Timaeus" and "Critias," both written c. 360 B.C.E.
atlatl (n.)
throwing-stick used by some indigenous American peoples, 1871, from Nahuatl (Aztecan) atlatl "spear-thrower."
ATM (n.)
1976, acronym for automated teller machine (1974), which was developed in modern form c. 1968. See teller.
atman (n.)
in Hindu philosophy, the self or soul, 1785, from Sanskrit atma "essence, breath, soul," from PIE *etmen "breath" (a root found in Sanskrit and Germanic; source also of Old English æðm, Dutch adem, Old High German atum "breath," Old English eþian, Dutch ademen "to breathe").
atmo-
word-forming element meaning "vapor," from Greek atmos "vapor, steam," which is of uncertain origin. Watkins has it from PIE *awet-mo-, from root *wet- (1) "to blow" (also "to inspire, spiritually arouse;" see wood (adj.)). Beekes says it is not considered to be related to the source of atman.
atmospheric (adj.)
1777, "pertaining to or existing in the atmosphere," from atmosphere + -ic. In a sense of "creating a mood or mental environment" it is from 1908. Atmospherics "disturbances in wireless communication" is from 1905.
atmosphere (n.)
1630s, atmosphaera (modern form from 1670s), "gaseous envelop surrounding the earth," from Modern Latin atmosphaera, from Greek atmos "vapor, steam" (see atmo-) + sphaira "sphere" (see sphere). In old science, "vaporous air," which was considered a part of the earth and a contamination of the lower part of the air (n.1).
First used in English in connection with the Moon, which, as it turns out, has practically none.
The figurative sense of "surrounding influence, mental or moral environment" is by c. 1800.
atoll (n.)
"island consisting of a strip or ring of coral around a central lagoon," 1620s, atollon, from Malayalam (Dravidian) atolu "reef," which is said to be from adal "closing, uniting." Watkins writes, "Perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit antara-, interior" (from PIE root *en "in"). The original use was in reference to the Maldives. The word was popularized in its present form by Darwin's writings.
atomizer (n.)
"apparatus to reduce liquids to a spray or mist," 1865, agent noun from atomize (q.v.).
atomization (n.)
"reduction of liquids to the form of a spray," 1860, noun of action from atomize. Perhaps based on earlier French atomisation.
atom (n.)
late 15c., as a hypothetical indivisible extremely minute body, the building block of the universe, from Latin atomus (especially in Lucretius) "indivisible particle," from Greek atomos "uncut, unhewn; indivisible," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + tomos "a cutting," from temnein "to cut" (from PIE root *tem- "to cut").
An ancient term of philosophical speculation (in Leucippus, Democritus); revived scientifically 1805 by British chemist John Dalton. In late classical and medieval use also a unit of time, 22,560 to the hour. Atom bomb is from 1945 as both a noun and a verb; compare atomic.
atomize (v.)
1829, "reduce to atoms;" by 1860, "reduce a liquid to a very fine mist;" a verb formed from atom + -ize. Related: Atomized; atomizing. Originally in reference to medical treatment for injured or diseased lungs. A sense of "to destroy with atomic weapons" is attested from 1945.
atomic (adj.)
"pertaining to atoms," 1670s as a philosophical term (see atomistic); scientific sense dates from 1811, from atom + -ic. Atomic number is attested from 1821; atomic mass is from 1848.
Atomic energy is recorded by 1906 in the modern sense (as intra-atomic energy from 1903).
Atomic bomb is first recorded 1914 in writings of H.G. Wells ("The World Set Free"), who thought of it as a bomb "that would continue to explode indefinitely."
Atomic Age is from 1945. Atomic clock is from 1938. Atomical "concerned with atoms," also "very minute," is from 1640s.
atomies (n.)
1590s, "atoms," also "diminutive beings," from atomy, from Latin atomi, plural of atomus (see atom), but taken as a singular in English and re-pluralized in the native way. Perhaps also in some cases a plural of atomy (from misdivision of anatomy).
atomy (n.)
see atomies.
atomistic (adj.)
1809, in reference to the classical philosophical or metaphysical doctrine of atomism (1670s); modern sense (logical atomism) traces to 1914 and Bertrand Russell and the philosophy that, "while maintaining that there are many things, ... denies that there is a whole composed of these things."
atonal (adj.)
in musical composition, "not considering scale or tone," 1911, from a- (3) "not, without" + tonal.
atonable (adj.)
"reconcilable; capable of being atoned for," 1670s, from atone + -able.
Aton
variant of Aten.
atone (v.)
1590s, "be in harmony, agree, be in accordance," from adverbial phrase atonen (c. 1300) "in accord," literally "at one," a contraction of at and one. It retains the older pronunciation of one.
The meaning "make up (for errors or deficiencies)" is from 1660s; that of "make reparations" is from 1680s.
The phrase perhaps is modeled on Latin adunare "unite," from ad "to, at" (see ad-) + unum "one." Related: Atoned; atoning.
atonement (n.)
1510s, "condition of being at one (with others)," a sense now obsolete, from atone + -ment. The theological meaning "reconciliation" (of man with God through the life, passion, and death of Christ) is from 1520s; that of "satisfaction or reparation for wrong or injury, propitiation of an offended party" is from 1610s.
atonality (n.)
"state or quality of being atonal," 1919, in reference to the works of Erik Satie; see atonal + -ity.
atop (adv.)
"on or at the top," 1650s, from a- (1) + top (n.1). Two words or hyphenated at first; not fully established as one word until late 19c.
atopic (adj.)
"pertaining to or characteristic of atopy," 1923, from atopy + -ic.
atopy (n.)
type of abnormal hypersensitiveness, 1923, coined by Edward D. Perry, professor of Greek at Columbia University, at the request of medical men, from Greek atopia "unusualness, strangeness, a being out of the way," from atopos "out of place, strange, odd, eccentric," from a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + topos "place" (see topos).
ATP
abbreviation of adenosine triphosphate, attested from 1939.
atrabilious (adj.)
"affected by melancholy," 1650s, from Latin atra bilis, translating Greek melankholia "black bile" (see melancholy; also compare bile). Atra is fem. of ater "black, dark, gloomy," and is perhaps "blackened by fire," from PIE root *ater- "fire." Related: Atrabiliousness.
atrabiliary (adj.)
"melancholic," 1725, from Medieval Latin atrabilarius; an alternative of atrabilious (q.v.). Other alternatives are, or were, atrabilarious (1680s), atrabilarian (1670s), atrabilaric (1620).
atremble (adv.)
"shivering, trembling," 1852, from a- (1) + tremble (v.).
atresia (n.)
"occlusion of a natural passage in the body, absence of a natural opening or passage," 1807, from Modern Latin atresia, from Greek atretos "not perforated," from a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + tresis "perforation" (from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn," with derivatives referring to boring and drilling). Related: Atresic.
Atreus
in Greek mythology, the son of Pelops, father of Agamemnon and Menelaus. Hence Latin Atrides "sons of Atreus."
atria (n.)
classical plural of atrium.
atrial (adj.)
by 1860 in the medical sense "pertaining to one of the atria of the heart," from atrium + -al (1).
atrium (n.)
1570s, in ancient Roman architecture, "entrance-hall," the most important and usually the most splendid apartment of a house. from Latin atrium "central court or first main room of a house, room which contains the hearth," from Proto-Italic *atro-, sometimes said (on authority of Varro, "De Lingua Latina") to be Etruscan.
Watkins suggests it is from PIE root *ater- "fire," on notion of "place where smoke from the hearth escapes" (through a hole in the roof). De Vaan finds this not very compelling, "since soot is black, but not the fire itself," and prefers a different PIE root, *hert-r- "fireplace," with cognates in Old Irish aith, Welsh odyn "furnace, oven," Avestan atarš "fire."
The anatomical sense of "either of the upper cavities of the heart" is recorded by 1870. The meaning "sky-lit central court in a public building" is attested by 1967.
atrocity (n.)
1530s, "enormous wickedness," from French atrocité or directly from Latin atrocitatem (nominative atrocitas) "cruelty, fierceness, harshness," noun of quality from atrox "fierce, cruel, frightful," from PIE *atro-ek-, from root *ater- "fire" + root *okw- "to see;" thus "of fiery or threatening appearance." The meaning "atrocious deed" is from 1793.
atrocious (adj.)
1660s, "heinous, extremely criminal, enormously cruel," from stem of Latin atrox "fierce, savage, cruel" (see atrocity) + -ous. The weakened colloquial sense of "very bad" is by late 19c. Related: Atrociously; atrociousness.
atrophic (adj.)
"pertaining to or characterized by atrophy," 1819; see atrophy + -ic.
atrophy (n.)
"a wasting away through lack of nourishment," 1610s (atrophied is from 1590s), from French atrophie, from Late Latin atrophia, from Greek atrophia "a wasting away," abstract noun from atrophos "ill-fed, un-nourished," from a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + trophē "nourishment," from trephein "to fatten" (see -trophy).
atrophy (v.)
"to waste away," 1808, from atrophy (n.). Related: Atrophied; atrophying.
atropine (n.)
also atropin, "poisonous crystalline alkaloid obtained from nightshade," 1831, from Latin atropa "deadly nightshade" (from which the alkaloid poison is extracted), from Greek atropos "inflexible, unchangeable," also the name of one of the Fates (see Atropos) + chemical suffix -ine (2). It is attested by 1821 in French and German.
Atropos
one of the Fates, the one who holds the shears and determines the manner of a person's death and cuts the thread, from Greek, literally "inflexible, unchangeable;" etymologically "not to be turned away," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + stem of trepein "to turn" (from PIE root *trep- "to turn"). The related form atropa was the Greek name for deadly nightshade.
attaboy (interj.)
1909, originally in baseball slang, said to be from common pronunciation of "that's the boy!" a cheer of encouragement or approval. I'm the boy for ______ "I'm willing and capable at" is attested from 1843. Related: Attagirl (1924).
attachable (adj.)
1570s, "liable to arrest," from attach + -able. The meaning "capable of being tacked on" is attested by 1856.
attache (n.)
1835, from French attaché "junior officer attached to the staff of an ambassador, etc.," literally "attached," noun use of past participle of attacher "to attach" (see attach). Attache case "small leather case for carrying papers" is recorded by 1900.
attachment (n.)
c. 1400, attachement, "arrest of a person on judicial warrant" (mid-13c. in Anglo-Latin), from Anglo-French attachement, from Old French attacher "to attach" (see attach). The word's application to property (including, later, wages) is by 1590s; the meaning "sympathy, devotion" is recorded from 1704; that of "something that is attached to something else" dates from 1797 and has become very common since the rise of electronic mail.
attached (adj.)
"affectionate, devoted, fond," 1793, past-participle adjective from attach in the sense of "join to or with in companionship or affection" (1765). Earlier the adjective meant "arrested" (1610s). The literal sense of "fastened on" is from 1841.
attach (v.)
mid-14c. (mid-13c. in Anglo-Latin), "to take or seize (property or goods) by law," a legal term, from Old French atachier "fasten; arrest" (11c.), earlier estachier "to attach, fix; stake up, support" (Modern French attacher, also compare Italian attaccare), from a- "to" (see ad-) + a base also found in detach, perhaps from Frankish *stakon "a post, stake" or a similar Germanic word, from Proto-Germanic *stakon- "a stake," from PIE root *steg- (1) "pole, stick" (see stake (n.)).
The meaning "fasten, affix, connect," which probably is the original sense etymologically, is attested in English from c. 1400. Related: Attached; attaching.
attack (n.)
1660s, "violent onset, a falling on with violence and force," from attack (v.). The meaning "fit of a disease" is from 1811. Compare Middle English attach "a seizure or attack" (of fever), late 14c.
attack (v.)
c. 1600, "assault, assail, begin hostilities against," from French attaquer (16c.), from Florentine Italian attaccare (battaglia) "join (battle)," thus the word is a doublet of attach, which was used 15c.-17c. also in the sense now reserved to attack.
The meaning "endeavor to bring into discredit by writing, proposals, etc." is from 1640s. The general sense of "begin action" is from 1670s, originally of diseases. Related: Attacked; attacking.
attain (v.)
c. 1300, "succeed in reaching, come so near as to touch," from ataign-, stem of Old French ataindre "to come up to, reach, attain, endeavor, strive" (11c., Modern French atteindre), from Vulgar Latin *attangere, corresponding to Latin attingere "to touch; arrive at," from ad "to" (see ad-) + tangere "to touch" (from PIE root *tag- "to touch, handle"). Latin attingere had a wide range of meanings, including "to attack, to strike, to appropriate, to manage," all somehow suggested by the literal sense "to touch." Related: Attained; attaining.
attainment (n.)
1540s, "action of acquiring by effort, act of reaching by exertion," from French atteignement, from attaindre "to come up to, reach, attain, endeavor, strive" (see attain). The sense of "that which is attained, personal accomplishment" dates from 1670s.
attainable (adj.)
"capable of being attained," 1640s, from attain + -able. Related: Attainability.
attainder (n.)
mid-15c., in law, "extinction of rights of a person sentenced to death or outlawry," from noun use of Old French ataindre "to touch upon; strike, hit; seize; accuse, condemn" (see attain). For use of French infinitives as nouns, especially in legal language, see waiver.
attar (n.)
"perfume from flowers" (especially roses), 1788, from Hindi/Urdu atr "perfume," from Persian 'itr "perfume," from Arabic 'itr "perfume, aroma."
attemper (v.)
late 14c., "reduce, moderate, modify; restrain, control; make fit or suitable; mix in just proportion," from Old French atemprer "become moderate, regulate one's actions, take the middle way," from Latin attemperare, from assimilated form of ad "to" (see ad-) + temperare "to mix in due proportion, modify, blend; restrain oneself" (see temper (v.)). Related: Attempered; attempering.
attempt (n.)
1530s, "a putting forth of effort in some difficult or uncertain endeavor," from attempt (v.). The meaning "effort to accomplish something by violence" is from 1580s, especially as an assault on someone's life.
attempt (v.)
late 14c., "seek or try to do, make an effort to perform," from Old French atempter (14c.), earlier atenter "to try, attempt, test" (Modern French attenter), from Latin attemptare "to try, make trial of; tamper with, seek to influence; attack, assail" (source also of Italian attentare, Old Provençal, Portuguese attentar, Spanish atentar), from assimilated form of ad "to, toward" (see ad-) + temptare "to try" (see tempt). Related: Attempted; attempting.
attend (v.)
c. 1300, "be subject to" (obsolete); early 14c., "direct one's mind or energies" (archaic), from Old French atendre "to expect, wait for, pay attention" (12c., Modern French attendre) and directly from Latin attendere "give heed to," literally "to stretch toward," from ad "to, toward" (see ad-) + tendere "stretch" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch"). The notion is of "stretching" one's mind toward something.
The sense of "take care of, wait upon" is from mid-14c.; that of "endeavor to do" is from c. 1400. The meaning "to pay attention" is from early 15c.; that of "accompany and render service to" (someone) is from mid-15c., as is that of "be in attendance." The meaning "to accompany or follow as a consequent" is from 1610s. Related: Attended; attending.
attendant (n.)
"one who waits upon another," early 15c., from the adjective or from French noun use of present participle of atendre (see attend).
attendance (n.)
late 14c., "act of attending to one's duties" (archaic), from Old French atendance "attention, wait, hope, expectation," from atendant, present participle of atendre "expect, wait for; pay attention" (see attend).
The meaning "action of waiting on someone" is by late 14c. (to dance attendance on someone is from 1560s); that of "action of being present, presenting oneself" (originally with intent of taking a part) is from mid-15c. The meaning "number of persons present" is from 1835. To take attendance in a classroom or lecture is by 1891.
attendant (adj.)
late 14c., "solicitous, attentive," from Old French atendant, present participle of atendre "expect, wait for, pay attention" (see attend (v.)). The sense of "serving under, accompanying in a dependent position" is from c. 1400; that of "closely consequent" is from 1610s.
attendee (n.)
"one who attends" (something), 1951, from attend + -ee. Attender (mid-15c. as "observer," 1704 as "one who attends") and attendant (1640s as "one present at a public proceeding") are older, but they had overtones of "one who waits upon."
attention (n.)
late 14c., attencioun, "a giving heed, active direction of the mind upon some object or topic," from Old French attencion and directly from Latin attentionem (nominative attentio) "attention, attentiveness," noun of action from past-participle stem of attendere "give heed to," literally "to stretch toward," from ad "to, toward" (see ad-) + tendere "stretch" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch").
Rare in English before 17c. The meaning "consideration, observant care" is from 1741; that of "civility, courtesy" is from 1752. The meaning "power of mental concentration" is from 1871. It is used with a remarkable diversity of verbs (pay, gather, attract, draw, call, etc.). As a military cautionary word before giving a command, it is attested from 1792. Attention span is from 1903 (earlier span of attention, 1892). Related: Attentions.