attendance English · revision 7193

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1374|origins=fro atendre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈtɛn.dəns/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English attendaunce, [[bor|fro|atendance|t=attention, wait, expectation]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from atendant, the present participle of [[m|fro|atendre|t=to expect, wait for; to pay attention]] (see [[attend]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The application of one's mind, attention: about 1374 in the OED;^(OED 1989) the act of attending to one's duties, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Waiting upon or accompanying a person, service, is from about 1386,^(OED 1989) and ''to dance attendance'' on someone from the 1560s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The action of being present, as at a meeting or service, is from the mid-15th century (about 1460).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Waiting or expectation is an obsolete 17th-century sense, as is a body of attendants (1607).^(OED 1989) The number of people present is from 1835,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and taking attendance in a classroom is by 1891.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1374 – attention.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1386 – waiting upon a person.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1460 – being present.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560s – dance attendance.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1835 – the number present.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of being present at a place or event.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The number of people present.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Regular presence, as at school or work.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(in attendance)'' Present, especially to serve or help.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unattendance]]

+ * [[nonattendance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[attend]]

+ * [[attendant]]

+ * [[attention]]

+ * [[tend]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}