attention French · revision 17393

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1536, Nicolas de Troyes|origins=la tendō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.tɑ̃.sjɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''attention''' ''f'' (uncountable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|attentiō|t=attention, application]], from [[m|la|attentum]], the supine of [[m|la|attendō|t=to stretch towards; to give heed]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|25, 713a)^(Wiktionary) “Attendō” is formed from [[m|la|ad-]] and [[m|la|tendō|t=to stretch]], French [[attendre]] is its inherited form.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Littré 1873)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==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.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of thoughtful care for someone, ''des attentions'' “kind gestures”, followed the mental sense.^(Littré 1873)^(Larousse) ''Attention !'' as a warning, ''prenez garde'', is noted by Littré, with the military command ''attention au commandement''.^(Littré 1873) ''Faire attention à'' is “to take care, mind”, and ''à l'attention de'' marks the person a letter is for.^(GLLF 1989) The adjective ''attentionné'' “considerate” dates from 1819 and ''inattention'' from 1671.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1360 – An isolated record.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1536 – In Nicolas de Troyes.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1671 – ''Inattention''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1819 – ''Attentionné''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|attention]], [[m|en|concentration]] of the mind: ''écouter avec attention''.^(Larousse)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''Faire attention'': to pay attention, be careful: ''fais attention à la marche''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A kind thought or gesture, [[m|en|consideration]]: ''il a pour elle mille attentions''.^(Larousse)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''À l'attention de'': for the attention of (on a letter).^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(psychology)'' The state in which the mind is directed to certain contents.^(Larousse)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Look out!, careful!: ''attention, chien méchant''.^(Littré 1873)^(Le Robert)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[attentionnel]]

+ * [[attentionné]]

+ * [[inattention]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[attendre]]

+ * [[attentif]]

+ * [[tendre]]

+ * [[en|attention]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}