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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Attend, v. [ME. attende, atende (a 1300), OF. atendre, L. attendere.]

1. intr. To direct one's attention, give heed, to or unto; to bestow attention upon. Also with inf. and absol.(1) ?1438 Alex. i. 3256 (that nane attendit to his bounté). a1500 Bk. Chess 237 (euery man suld to his king attend); 1045 (knychtis suld to thair weile attend). 1513 Doug. ix. i. 57 (the goddys besekand till attend to hys prayer). c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. cxxviii. 78 (vnto this tale attend). 1558-66 Knox II. 237 (thay may attend vpoun thair besynes). a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxxii. 22 (my hairt sall to thy lawis attend).(2) a1500 Bk. Chess 1070 (the prince suld aye attend to keipe Iustice). 1513 Doug. i. vi. 118 (to heir our storyis set thou myght attend). 1567 Sat. P. vi. 73 (ȝe may attend not for to spair … ).(3) a1500 Henr. Fab. 783 (attend wyislie). 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 503 (quha list attend, gevis audiens, and draw neir).

b. To intend, purpose. 1490 Misc. Spald. C. V. 31.
We ar informit that ye attend tile set the said fischinge fra our said seruitouris

2. tr. To note or mark with attention.c1450-2 Howlat 589 (flour delycis so fair, trewe till attend). a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 452 (O ladyis fair, attend my miserie). a1500 Bernardus 213 (attende quhat falowis eftyr). 1513 Doug. ii. Prol. 17 (wys men, attendis mony sorofull claws). 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 278 (attend quhow ȝe sulde chuse ȝour pastoris).

3. intr. To look for, expect; to wait.c1475 Wall. v. 625 (to mary thus I can nocht ȝeit attend); 697. c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. clv. 22 (he that hechtis and causis me attend). a1585 Maitl. Q. xlii. 113 (for erdlie Ioy then sould we not attend). a1585 Jas. VI Ib. lxvii. 17 (with patience then thow attend, and houp to vanqueis in the end).

4. To wait on; to be in attendance.1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 26 (four lordis to attend on the kingis grace). 1572 Peebles B. Rec. 347 (ane of the hind watsche to attend quhill the sone ryse).