attention
UK: əˈtenʃn | US: əˈtenʃn
n. the act or state of focusing mentally or physically on something
n. consideration or care for someone or something
n. a military posture of readiness (e.g., "stand at attention")
attention = at<toward> + tent<stretch> + ion<noun suffix>
- at (Latin ad-): "toward"
- tent (Latin tendere): "to stretch" (originally implying mental or physical focus)
- ion: noun-forming suffix indicating action or state
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin attentio ("stretching toward"), the word originally described the act of directing one’s mind or senses toward something. The metaphorical "stretching" evolved into the modern sense of concentrated focus. The military usage reflects the physical posture of alertness, mirroring the mental state.
Pay attention to the teacher’s instructions.
The patient requires immediate medical attention.
The soldiers stood at attention during the ceremony.
Her artwork captured everyone’s attention.
Lack of attention to detail caused the error.