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.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to attention

attention deficit disorder (n.)

(abbreviated ADD), introduced as a diagnosis in the third edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (1980), from attention in the "power of mental concentration" sense. Expanded to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ("the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone;" ADHD) in DSM-III (1987).

inattention (n.)

"heedlessness, negligence," 1710, from in- (1) "not, opposite of" + attention. Perhaps modeled on French inattention.

attention deficit disorder

ad-

*ten-

See all related words (4) >

Trends of attention

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

More to Explore

care

Old English caru, cearu "sorrow, anxiety, grief," also "burdens of mind; serious mental attention," in late Old English also "concern, anxiety caused by apprehension of evil or the weight of many burdens," from Proto-Germanic *karō "lament; grief, care" (source also of Old Saxon

aid

early 15c., aide, "war-time tax," also "help, support, assistance," from Old French aide, earlier aiudha "aid, help, assistance," from Late Latin adiuta, noun use of fem. of adiutus, past participle of Latin adiuvare "to give help to," from ad "to" (see ad-) + iuvare "to help, gi

intend

c. 1300, entenden, "direct one's attention to, pay attention, give heed," from Old French entendre, intendre "to direct one's...attention" (in Modern French principally "to hear"), from Latin intendere "turn one's attention, strain (in quest of something...word for this was ettle, from Old Norse ætla "to think, conjecture, propose," from Proto-Germanic *ahta "consideration, attention...

advertise

sense now obsolete), from Old French advertiss-, present-participle stem of advertir (earlier avertir) "make aware, call attention..., remark; turn, turn to" (12c.), from Latin advertere "to direct one's attention to; give heed," literally "to turn toward...inform, warn; make clear or manifest" (mid-15c.) is by influence of advertisement; the specific commercial meaning "call attention..."turn (someone's) attention to." Related: Advertised; advertising....

intention

aspiration; will; thought" (12c.), from Latin intentionem (nominative intentio) "a stretching out, straining, exertion, effort; attention...," noun of action from intendere "to turn one's attention," literally "to stretch out" (see intend)....

hallo

shout to call attention, 1781, earlier hollo, holla (also see hello)...."Such forms, being mere syllables to call attention, are freely varied for sonorous effect" [Century Dictionary]....

abstracted

absent man is one whose mind wanders unconsciously from his immediate surroundings, or from the topic which demands his attention...An abstracted man is kept from what is present by thoughts and feelings so weighty or interesting that they engross his attention...

foil

c. 1300, foilen "to spoil a trace or scent by running over it" (more commonly defoilen), irregularly from Old French foler, fuler "trample on, injure, maim; ill-treat, deceive, get the better of" (13c., Modern French fouler), from Vulgar Latin *fullare "to clean cloth" (by treadi

module

1580s, "allotted measure," a sense now obsolete, from French module (1540s) or directly from Latin modulus "small measure," diminutive of modus "measure, manner" (from PIE root *med- "take appropriate measures"). Sense of "a standard measure to regulate proportions" is from 1620s

faculty

late 14c., "ability, opportunity, means, resources," from Old French faculte "skill, accomplishment, learning" (14c., Modern French faculté) and directly from Latin facultatem (nominative facultas) "power, ability, capability, opportunity; sufficient number, abundance, wealth," f

Share attention

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/attention

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/attention">Etymology of attention by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of attention. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/attention

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of attention,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/attention.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of attention.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/attention. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of attention.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/attention (accessed $(datetime)).

updated on September 28, 2022

Remove ads >

Dictionary entries near attention

attend

attendance

attendant

attendee

attent

attention

attention deficit disorder

attentive

attentiveness

attenuate

attenuation