An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. To pay attention.
   

2. To be present at.

Etymology (EN): M.E. atenden, from O.Fr. atendre “to expect, wait for, pay attention,” from L. attendere “give heed to,” literally “to stretch toward,” from → ad- “to” + tendere “stretch,” → tension.

Etymology (PE): Âtânidan, from prefix â- + tân, from tan-, tanidan “to spin, twist, weave” (cf. tân “thread, warp of a web,” variants
târ “thread, warp, string,” tâl “thread” (Borujerdi dialect), tur “fishing net, net, snare”); Mid.Pers. tanitan; Av. tan- to stretch, extend;" cf. Skt. tan- to stretch, extend;" tanoti “stretches,” tantram “loom;” tántra- “warp; essence, main point;” Gk. teinein “to stretch, pull tight;” L. tendere “to stretch;”
Lith. tiñklas “net, fishing net, snare;” PIE base *ten- “to stretch.”