Part 435

sense of fame, the attendant of noble spirits. Pope.

4. (Law) One who owes duty or service to, or depends on, another. Cowell.

At*tend"e*ment (&?;), n. Intent. [Obs.] Spenser.

At*tend"er (&?;), n. One who, or that which, attends.

At*tend"ment (&?;), n. [Cf. OF. atendement.] An attendant circumstance. [Obs.]

The uncomfortable attendments of hell. Sir T. Browne.

At*tent" (&?;), a. [L. attentus, p. p. of attendere. See Attend, v. t.] Attentive; heedful. [Archaic]

Let thine ears be attent unto the prayer. 2 Chron. vi. 40.

At*tent", n. Attention; heed. [Obs.] Spenser.

{ At*ten"tate (&?;), At*ten"tat (&?;), } n. [L. attentatum, pl. attentata, fr. attentare to attempt: cf. F. attentat criminal attempt. See Attempt.] 1. An attempt; an assault. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. (Law) (a) A proceeding in a court of judicature, after an inhibition is decreed. (b) Any step wrongly innovated or attempted in a suit by an inferior judge.

At*ten"tion (&?;), n. [L. attentio: cf. F. attention.] 1. The act or state of attending or heeding; the application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought; notice; exclusive or special consideration; earnest consideration, thought, or regard; obedient or affectionate heed; the supposed power or faculty of attending.

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They say the tongues of dying men Enforce attention like deep harmony. Shak.

Attention is consciousness and something more. It is consciousness voluntarily applied, under its law of limitations, to some determinate object; it is consciousness concentrated. Sir W. Hamilton.

2. An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger.

To pay attention to, To pay one's attentions to, to be courteous or attentive to; to wait upon as a lover; to court.

Syn. -- Care; heed; study; consideration; application; advertence; respect; regard.

At*ten"tive (t*tn"tv), a. [Cf. F. attentif.] 1. Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care or attention.

Attentive is applied to the senses of hearing and seeing, as, an attentive ear or eye; to the application of the mind, as in contemplation; or to the application of the mind, in every possible sense, as when a person is attentive to the words, and to the manner and matter, of a speaker at the same time.

2. Heedful of the comfort of others; courteous.

Syn. -- Heedful; intent; observant; mindful; regardful; circumspect; watchful.

-- At*ten"tive*ly, adv. -- At*ten"tive*ness, n.

At*tent"ly, adv. Attentively. [Obs.] Barrow.

At*ten"u*ant (&?;), a. [L. attenuans, p. pr. of attenuare: cf. F. atténuant. See Attenuate.] Making thin, as fluids; diluting; rendering less dense and viscid; diluent. -- n. (Med.) A medicine that thins or dilutes the fluids; a diluent.

At*ten"u*ate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attenuated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Attenuating (&?;).] [L. attenuatus, p. p. of attenuare; ad + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See Thin.] 1. To make thin or slender, as by mechanical or chemical action upon inanimate objects, or by the effects of starvation, disease, etc., upon living bodies.

2. To make thin or less consistent; to render less viscid or dense; to rarefy. Specifically: To subtilize, as the humors of the body, or to break them into finer parts.

3. To lessen the amount, force, or value of; to make less complex; to weaken.