a. and sb. Also 4–6 -aunt. [a. OF. attendant, pr. pple. of attendre, earlier atendre, to ATTEND.]
A. adj.
† 1. Tuming the attention, giving earnest heed; watchful, observant, attentive. Obs.
1432. Paston Lett., 18, I. 34. Attendant and obeissant in accomplishing therof.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. lxxi. Her servaunt To obtayne her love is so attendaunt.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. xiii. (1739), 73. To have the King … attendant upon his Advice.
2. Waiting upon, accompanying, or following, in order to do service; ministrant.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 1872. In good soth we byn a-tenddawntt.
1575. (title) Robert Laneham’s Letter … from a freend officer attendant in the Court.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 149. Other Suns … With thir attendant Moons thou wilt descrie.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxviii. From the attendant flotilla rang notes of triumph.
b. Const. to (obs.), on, upon.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 172. As damiselles attendaunt To the goddesses.
1531–2. Act 23 Hen. VIII., v. § 4. Officers … attendant to you in and aboute the due execucion of this our commission.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, xxx. 473. His guardian angels alwaies attendant on him.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 314. Fresh meat was never eaten even by the gentlemen attendant on a great Earl.
† 3. Law. Dependent on; owing duty or service to.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 214. To whom the lond was attendant As he, whiche heir was apparant.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, VII. 3369. Yles ynow are attendant to Troy.
1528. Perkins, Prof. Bk., v. § 424. The tenant in dower … shall be attendant unto them by the rate and portion of the rent.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 31. His wife shal be endowed of the land, and shee shall be attendant to the heire of the third part of 1. d.
4. Accompanying, in a dependent position; closely consequent or resulting. Const. on, upon.
Attendant Keys in Mus.: the keys or scales on the fifth above, and fifth below (or fourth above), any key-note or tonic, considered in relation to the key or scale on that tonic.
1617. Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, I. v. 220. Miracles come from no inhaerent power … from a circumstant rather, or an attendant.
1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 77, ¶ 11. To show innocence and goodness with such attendant weaknesses.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, vi. 72. The suffering and death attendant upon war.
Mod. The attendant circumstances.
5. Present at any public proceeding or at the place in which it is held.
1588. Lambarde, Eiren., II. ii. 101. Ecclesiasticall persons (if they be not attendant upon diuine seruice), may be arrested for the Peace.
1880. trans. Daudet’s Fromont & Risler, I. ii. 12. M. Chèbe loved … the round of fêtes, with their attendant crowds.
B. sb.
1. One who waits upon, accompanies or follows another in order to render service; one of a retinue or train; a servant, satellite, subordinate companion.
1555. Fardle Facions, I. v. 57. He laied all the faulte vpon the ministres and attendauntes.
1604. Shaks., Oth., IV. iii. 8. Dismisse your Attendant there.
1780. Harris, Philol. Enq. (1841), 480. This author was a constant attendant upon the person of this great prince.
1822. Byron, Juan, VII. lxxii. Two … ladies, who With their attendant aided our escape.
b. transf. or fig.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 547. Least sin Surprise thee, and her black attendant, Death.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 129. Hancock’s Sloop, which I had before made use of as an attendant.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857), I. 301. Jupiter also has attendants.
2. ‘One that waits the pleasure of another.’ J.
1684. T. Burnet, Th. Earth (1697), III. Pref. to Rdr. (J.). To give an Attendant quick despatch, is a civility, whether you do his business or no.
3. Something that accompanies in a circumstantial relation; an accompaniment, close consequent.
1607. Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr., I. i. 56. [The Crosse] is vsed by vs, as an attendant vpon the Sacrament.
1660. Waterhouse, Arms & Arm., 36. They had their Crowns, Chayns, Rings, like our attendants of Knighthood.
1737. Pope, Hor. Epist., II. i. 247. The laugh, the jest, attendants on the bowl.
1869. J. Coleridge, Keble, iv. 65. Melancholy is a common attendant on poetic genius.
4. One who is present at any public proceeding or at the place in which it is held.
1641. Hinde, J. Bruen, xxx. 95. The attendants … of such Wakes.
1720. Swift, Fates Clergym., Wks. 1765, IV. 37 (J.). Where he was a constant attendant at all meetings relating to charity, without ever contributing farther than his frequent pious exhortations.
1882. Picton, Cromwell, ii. 26. His parents were certainly diligent attendants at church.
5. Law. (See A 3.)
