Etymologically
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attention

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 14:03. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /a.tɑ̃.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

attention f (uncountable)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin attentiō (“attention, application”), from attentum, the supine of attendō (“to stretch towards; to give heed”).[2][3][4][5][1] “Attendō” is formed from ad- and tendō (“to stretch”), French attendre is its inherited form.[2][6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Bloch and Wartburg and the Grand Robert date it to 1536 (Nicolas de Troyes), meaning the act of fixing the mind on something; the Petit Robert notes an isolated use in 1360 and a record from 1487.[3][2][7]

Semantic evolution

The sense of thoughtful care for someone, des attentions “kind gestures”, followed the mental sense.[6][8] Attention ! as a warning, prenez garde, is noted by Littré, with the military command attention au commandement.[6] Faire attention à is “to take care, mind”, and à l'attention de marks the person a letter is for.[4] The adjective attentionné “considerate” dates from 1819 and inattention from 1671.[3]

Timeline

  • 1360 – An isolated record.[7]
  • 1536 – In Nicolas de Troyes.[2][3]
  • 1671 – Inattention.[3]
  • 1819 – Attentionné.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. attention, concentration of the mind: écouter avec attention.[8][7]
  2. Faire attention: to pay attention, be careful: fais attention à la marche.[4]
  3. A kind thought or gesture, consideration: il a pour elle mille attentions.[8][1]
  4. À l'attention de: for the attention of (on a letter).[4]
  5. (psychology) The state in which the mind is directed to certain contents.[8]

Interjection

  1. Look out!, careful!: attention, chien méchant.[6][9]

Word family

  • attentionnel
  • attentionné
  • inattention

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  4. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 713a
  6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)