different between pursue vs attend

English

Etymology

From Middle English pursuen, from Anglo-Norman pursure, poursuire etc., from Latin pr?sequor (though influenced by persequor). Doublet of prosecute.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??sju?/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /p???u?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p??su/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /p???u/

Verb

pursue (third-person singular simple present pursues, present participle pursuing, simple past and past participle pursued)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase. [from 14th c.]
   • 1382–1395, John Wycliffe et al. (translators), John xv. 20

     The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also.

   • 2009, Martin Chulov, ‘Iraqi shoe-thrower claims he suffered torture in jail’, The Guardian, 15 Sep 09:

     He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.

2. (transitive) To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.). [from late 14th c.]

   Her rival pursued a quite different course.

3. (transitive) To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.). [from late 14th c.]
   • 2009, Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian, 1 Dec 09:

     He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.

4. (transitive) To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession). [from 15th c.]
5. (intransitive) To act as a legal prosecutor.

Derived terms

• pursuer

Related terms

• pursual
• pursuant
• pursuit

Translations

See also

• follow
• chase

Anagrams

• sure up

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /??t?nd/, [??t??nd]
• Rhymes: -?nd
• Homophone: atend

Etymology 1

From Middle English attenden, atenden, from Old French atendre (“to attend, listen”), from Latin attendere (“to stretch toward, give heed to”), from ad (“to”) + tendere (“to stretch”); see tend and compare attempt.

Verb

attend (third-person singular simple present attends, present participle attending, simple past and past participle attended)

1. (archaic, transitive) To listen to (something or someone); to pay attention to; regard; heed. [from 15th c.]

   • The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskilful words of the passenger.
2. (archaic, intransitive) To listen (to, unto). [from 15th c.]
   • 1912, Rudyard Kipling, The Beginning of the Armadillos

     'Now attend to me,' said Painted Jaguar, 'because this is very important. […]

4. (intransitive) To turn one's consideration (to); to deal with (a task, problem, concern etc.), to look after. [from 15th c.]
5. (transitive, intransitive) To wait upon as a servant etc.; to accompany to assist (someone). [from 15th c.]
7. (transitive) To be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings; to regularly go to (an event or place). [from 17th c.]
   • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 20:

     I attended a one-room school next door to the palace and studied English, Xhosa, history and geography.

8. (intransitive, law) To go to (a place) for some purpose (with at).
9. To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to.
   • 1697, John Dryden, The Georgics

     What cares must then attend the toiling swain.
10. To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for.

    • the different state of perfect happiness or misery that attends all men after this

    • 1665, John Dryden, The Indian Emperour

      Three days I promised to attend my doom.

Synonyms

• (listen to): behear, heed, mark, notice
• (listen): notice, pay attention, take heed; See also Thesaurus:listen or Thesaurus:pay attention
• (wait upon as a servant): bestand, serve; See also Thesaurus:serve
• (wait for): See also Thesaurus:wait for

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English attenden, atenden, from Old English ?tendan (“to set on fire, kindle, inflame, trouble, perplex”), equivalent to a- +? tend.

Verb

attend (third-person singular simple present attends, present participle attending, simple past and past participle attended)

1. Alternative form of atend ("to kindle").

Related terms

• tend
• tinder

References

• attend at OneLook Dictionary Search
• attend in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Adnett

Dutch

Pronunciation

Participle

attend

1. present participle of atten

Declension

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.t??/

Verb

attend

1. third-person singular present indicative of attendre

Anagrams

• datent