attend Look up attend at Dictionary.com
c.1300, "to direct one's mind or energies," from O.Fr. atendre (12c., Mod.Fr. attendre) "to expect, wait for, pay attention," from L. attendere "give heed to," lit. "to stretch toward," from ad- "to" + tendere "stretch" (see tenet). The notion is of "stretching" one's mind toward something. Sense of "take care of, wait upon" is from early 15c.