attentio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [atˈtɛn.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [atˈtɛn.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

attentiō f (genitive attentiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin attendō (“to direct towards, attend”) + -tiō.^[2][3] Attendō is from ad- and tendō “to stretch”.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero, in De oratore, lists care, attention of the mind, thought and vigilance as what remains for the orator.^[4][3] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant application or attention, with or without animi.^[2][6] Quintilian says that attention itself makes the listener receptive.^[4] It is found later in Augustine, the Vulgate and Servius.^[6]

In medieval Latin it meant attentiveness and care, mental effort, observation and also reverence.^[7][8] English attention came from Old French attencion and directly from Latin in the late 14th century.^[9]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses attentio animi.^[4][5]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it on its own.^[4][5]
• late 14th century – English attention is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. attention, application.^[2][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) Care, looking after; reverence.^[7][8]

Related words

• attendo
• English attention

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com