attend

The story

1. Latin · derived fromattendere
2. Old French · derived fromatendre“to await, wait for; to expect; to intend”
3. Middle English · inherited fromattenden
4. English todayattend

PIE word *h₂éd From Middle English attenden, atenden (“to devote oneself (to a task, etc.); to pay attention to (something), to look after; to consider (something); to expect or look forward to (something); to intend to do (something); to help or serve (someone), attend upon; to take care of (something)”), from Old French atendre (“to await, wait for; to expect; to intend”), from Latin attendere, adtendere (“to pay attention to, attend; to direct or turn toward”), from ad- (“prefix meaning ‘to, towards’”) + tendō (“to direct one’s course; to extend, stretch; to exert, strive”). Doublet of attempt and tend.

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. To wait on (someone or their instructions) as an attendant, servant, etc.; also (specifically of a gentleman-in-waiting or lady-in-waiting to a member of royalty), to accompany (someone) in order to assist or wait upon them; to escort.
• from 17th c. To be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings; also, to regularly go to (an event or place).
• from 15th c. To take action with respect to (someone, or something such as a concern, problem, or task); to deal with, to handle.
• from 15th c. To listen to (something or someone).
• from 15th c. Followed by to or unto: to listen.