different between solicitous vs attentive

English

Etymology

From Latin s?licitus, sollicitus (“thoroughly disturbed, anxious”), from sollus (“whole, entire”) + cie? (“move, disturb”). Surface analysis solicit +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??l?s?t?s/
• Hyphenation: so?lic?i?tous

Adjective

solicitous (comparative more solicitous, superlative most solicitous)

1. Disposed to solicit; eager to obtain something desirable, or to avoid anything evil.
2. (Usually followed by about, for, etc., or a clause) Showing care, concern, or attention, in any of several ways; thus:
   1. in a conscientious way, often with kindness
   2. in an eager way
   3. in an anxious or distressed way

Derived terms

• solicitously (adv)
• solicitousness (n)

Translations

References

• solicitous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology

From Middle English attentif, attentijf, from Old French attentif.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??t?nt?v/

Adjective

attentive (comparative more attentive, superlative most attentive)

1. Paying attention; noticing, watching, listening, or attending closely.

   She is an attentive listener, but does not like to talk much.

   • 1929, Robert Dean Frisbee, The Book of Puka-Puka (republished by Eland, 2019; p. 94):

     King-of-the-Sky was sitting alone in the Leeward Village meeting-house, gesticulating to the attentive shades of night, roaring out the genealogy of his ancestors, telling the sleeping world of his greatness.

2. Courteous; mindful.

   a husband attentive to his wife's needs

Synonyms

• audient
• mindful
• reckful

Antonyms

• inattentive, reckless

Translations

See also

• alert
• wary
• watchful

Anagrams

• tentative

French

Adjective

attentive

1. feminine singular of attentif