attentional - Attractive

They say the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention like deep harmony. Shak.
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☞ Attention is consciousness and something more. It is consciousness voluntarily applied, under its law of limitations, to some determinate object; it is consciousness concentrated. Sir W. Hamilton.
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2. An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger.
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Coloq. To pay attention to , Coloq. To pay one's attentions to , to be courteous or attentive to; to wait upon as a lover; to court.
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Syn. -- Care; heed; study; consideration; application; advertence; respect; regard.
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attentional adj. 1. of or pertaining to attention.
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attention-getting attention-grabbing adj. 1. seizing the attention attention-getting demonstration
Syn. -- eye-catching.
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2. 1 likely to attract interest.
Syn. -- catchy.
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Attentive (ăttĕntĭv), a. [Cf. F. attentif.] 1. Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care or attention.
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☞ Attentive is applied to the senses of hearing and seeing, as, an attentive ear or eye; to the application of the mind, as in contemplation; or to the application of the mind, in every possible sense, as when a person is attentive to the words, and to the manner and matter, of a speaker at the same time.
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2. Heedful of the comfort of others; courteous.
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Syn. -- Heedful; intent; observant; mindful; regardful; circumspect; watchful.
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-- Attentively, adv. -- Attentiveness, n.
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attentiveness n. 1. the quality of paying careful attention; attentiveness to detail.
Syn. -- heed, regard, paying attention.
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2. paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people).
Syn. -- heed, regard, paying attention.
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3. the trait of being considerate and thoughtful of others.
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Attently, adv. Attentively. [Obs.] Barrow.
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Attenuant (�), a. [L. attenuans, p. pr. of attenuare: cf. F. atténuant. See .] Making thin, as fluids; diluting; rendering less dense and viscid; diluent. -- n. (Med.) A medicine that thins or dilutes the fluids; a diluent.
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Attenuate (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attenuated (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Attenuating (�).] [L. attenuatus, p. p. of attenuare; ad + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See .] 1. To make thin or slender, as by mechanical or chemical action upon inanimate objects, or by the effects of starvation, disease, etc., upon living bodies.
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2. To make thin or less consistent; to render less viscid or dense; to rarefy. Specifically: To subtilize, as the humors of the body, or to break them into finer parts.
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3. To lessen the amount, force, or value of; to make less complex; to weaken.
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To undersell our rivals . . . has led the manufacturer to . . . attenuate his processes, in the allotment of tasks, to an extreme point. I. Taylor.
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We may reject and reject till we attenuate history into sapless meagerness. Sir F. Palgrave.
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Attenuate, v. i. To become thin, slender, or fine; to grow less; to lessen.
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The attention attenuates as its sphere contracts. Coleridge.
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{ Attenuate (�), Attenuated (�), } a. [L. attenuatus, p. p.] 1. Made thin or slender.
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2. Made thin or less viscid; rarefied. Bacon.
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Attenuation (�), n. [L. attenuatio: cf. F. atténuation.] 1. The act or process of making slender, or the state of being slender; emaciation.
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2. The act of attenuating; the act of making thin or less dense, or of rarefying, as fluids or gases.
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3. The process of weakening in intensity; diminution of virulence; as, the attenuation of virus.
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Atter (�), n. [AS. ǣtter.] Poison; venom; corrupt matter from a sore. [Obs.] Holland.
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Attercop (�), n. [AS. attercoppa a spider; ǣtter poison + coppa head, cup.] 1. A spider. [Obs.]
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2. A peevish, ill-natured person. [North of Eng.]
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Atterrate (�), v. t. [It. atterrare (cf. LL. atterrare to cast to earth); L. ad + terra earth, land.] To fill up with alluvial earth. [Obs.] Ray.
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Atterration (�), n. The act of filling up with earth, or of forming land with alluvial earth. [Obs.]
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Attest (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attested; p. pr. & vb. n. Attesting.] [L. attestari; ad + testari to bear witness: cf. F. attester.] 1. To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be true or genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing, a copy of record.
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Facts . . . attested by particular pagan authors. Addison.
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2. To give proof of; to manifest; as, the ruins of Palmyra attest its ancient magnificence.
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3. To call to witness; to invoke. [Archaic]
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The sacred streams which Heaven's imperial state
Attests in oaths, and fears to violate. Dryden.
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Attest, n. Witness; testimony; attestation. [R.]
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The attest of eyes and ears. Shak.
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Attestant n. 1. (Law) a person who attests to the genuineness of a document or signature by adding their own signature.
Syn. -- witness.
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Attestation (�), n. [L. attestatio: cf. F. attestation.] The act of attesting; testimony; witness; a solemn or official declaration, verbal or written, in support of a fact; evidence. The truth appears from the attestation of witnesses, or of the proper officer. The subscription of a name to a writing as a witness, is an attestation.
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Attestative (�), a. Of the nature of attestation.
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{ Attester (�), Attestor (�), } n. One who attests.
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Attestive (�), a. Attesting; furnishing evidence.
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Attic (�), a. [L. Atticus, Gr. �.] Of or pertaining to Attica, in Greece, or to Athens, its principal city; marked by such qualities as were characteristic of the Athenians; classical; refined.
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Coloq. Attic base (Arch.), a peculiar form of molded base for a column or pilaster, described by Vitruvius, applied under the Roman Empire to the Ionic and Corinthian and “Roman Doric” orders, and imitated by the architects of the Renaissance. -- Coloq. Attic faith , inviolable faith. -- Coloq. Attic purity , special purity of language. -- Coloq. Attic salt , Coloq. Attic wit , a poignant, delicate wit, peculiar to the Athenians. -- Coloq. Attic story . See , n. -- Coloq. Attic style , a style pure and elegant.
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Attic, n. [In sense (a) from F. attique, orig. meaning Attic. See , a.] 1. (Arch.) (a) A low story above the main order or orders of a facade, in the classical styles; -- a term introduced in the 17th century. Hence: (b) A room or rooms behind that part of the exterior; all the rooms immediately below the roof.
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2. An Athenian; an Athenian author.
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Attical (�), a. Attic. [Obs.] Hammond.
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Atticism (�), n. [Gr. �.] 1. A favoring of, or attachment to, the Athenians.
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2. The style and idiom of the Greek language, used by the Athenians; a concise and elegant expression.
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Atticize (�), v. t. [Gr. �.] To conform or make conformable to the language, customs, etc., of Attica.
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Atticize, v. i. 1. To side with the Athenians.
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2. To use the Attic idiom or style; to conform to the customs or modes of thought of the Athenians.
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Attiguous (�), a. [L. attiguus, fr. attingere to touch. See .] Touching; bordering; contiguous. [Obs.]
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-- Attiguousness, n. [Obs.]
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Attinge (�), v. t. [L. attingere to touch. See .] To touch lightly. [Obs.] Coles.
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Attire (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attired (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Attiring.] [OE. atiren to array, dispose, arrange, OF. atirier; à (L. ad) + F. tire rank, order, row; of Ger. origin: cf. As. tier row, OHG. ziarī, G. zier, ornament, zieren to adorn. Cf. a headdress.] To dress; to array; to adorn; esp., to clothe with elegant or splendid garments.
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Finely attired in a robe of white. Shak.
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With the linen miter shall he be attired. Lev. xvi. 4.
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Attire, n. 1. Dress; clothes; headdress; anything which dresses or adorns; esp., ornamental clothing.
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Earth in her rich attire. Milton.
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I 'll put myself in poor and mean attire. Shak.
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Can a maid forget her ornament, or a bride her attire? Jer. ii. 32.
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2. The antlers, or antlers and scalp, of a stag or buck.
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3. (Bot.) The internal parts of a flower, included within the calyx and the corolla. [Obs.] Johnson.
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Attired (�), p. p. (Her.) Provided with antlers, as a stag.
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Attirement (�), n. Attire; adornment.
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Attirer (�), n. One who attires.
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Attitude (�), n. [It. attitudine, LL. aptitudo, fr. L. aptus suited, fitted: cf. F. attitude. Cf. .] 1. (Paint. & Sculp.) The posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue.
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2. The posture or position of a person or an animal, or the manner in which the parts of his body are disposed; position assumed or studied to serve a purpose; as, a threatening attitude; an attitude of entreaty.
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3. Fig.: Position as indicating action, feeling, or mood; as, in times of trouble let a nation preserve a firm attitude; one's mental attitude in respect to religion.
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The attitude of the country was rapidly changing. J. R. Green.
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Coloq. To strike an attitude , to take an attitude for mere effect.
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Syn. -- , . Both of these words describe the visible disposition of the limbs. Posture relates to their position merely; attitude refers to their fitness for some specific object. The object of an attitude is to set forth exhibit some internal feeling; as, attitude of wonder, of admiration, of grief, etc. It is, therefore, essentially and designedly expressive. Its object is the same with that of gesture; viz., to hold forth and represent. Posture has no such design. If we speak of posture in prayer, or the posture of devotion, it is only the natural disposition of the limbs, without any intention to show forth or exhibit.
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'T is business of a painter in his choice of attitudes (posituræ) to foresee the effect and harmony of the lights and shadows. Dryden.
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Never to keep the body in the same posture half an hour at a time. Bacon.
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Attitudinal (�), a. Relating to attitude.
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Attitudinarian (�), n. One who attitudinizes; a posture maker.
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Attitudinarianism (�), n. A practicing of attitudes; posture making.
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Attitudinize (�), v. i. To assume affected attitudes; to strike an attitude; to pose.
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Maria, who is the most picturesque figure, was put to attitudinize at the harp. Hannah More.
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Attitudinizer (�), n. One who practices attitudes.
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Attle (�), n. [Cf. mire.] (Mining) Rubbish or refuse consisting of broken rock containing little or no ore. Weale.
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Attollent (�), a. [L. attollens, p. pr. of attollere; ad + tollere to lift.] Lifting up; raising; as, an attollent muscle. Derham.
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Attonce (�), adv. [At + once.] At once; together. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Attone (�), adv. See . [Obs.]
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Attorn (�), v. i. [OF. atorner, aturner, atourner, to direct, prepare, dispose, attorn (cf. OE. atornen to return, adorn); à (L. ad) + torner to turn; cf. LL. attornare to commit business to another, to attorn; ad + tornare to turn, L. tornare to turn in a lathe, to round off. See , v. t.] 1. (Feudal Law) To turn, or transfer homage and service, from one lord to another. This is the act of feudatories, vassals, or tenants, upon the alienation of the estate. Blackstone.
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2. (Modern Law) To agree to become tenant to one to whom reversion has been granted.
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Attorney (�), n.; pl. Attorneys (�). [OE. aturneye, OF. atorné, p. p. of atorner: cf. LL. atturnatus, attornatus, fr. attornare. See .] 1. A substitute; a proxy; an agent. [Obs.]
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And will have no attorney but myself. Shak.
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2. (Law) (a) One who is legally appointed by another to transact any business for him; an attorney in fact. (b) A legal agent qualified to act for suitors and defendants in legal proceedings; an attorney at law.
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☞ An attorney is either public or private. A private attorney, or an attorney in fact, is a person appointed by another, by a letter or power of attorney, to transact any business for him out of court; but in a more extended sense, this class includes any agent employed in any business, or to do any act in pais, for another. A public attorney, or attorney at law, is a practitioner in a court of law, legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court, on the retainer of clients. Bouvier. -- The attorney at law answers to the procurator of the civilians, to the solicitor in chancery, and to the proctor in the ecclesiastical and admiralty courts, and all of these are comprehended under the more general term lawyer. In Great Britain and in some states of the United States, attorneys are distinguished from counselors in that the business of the former is to carry on the practical and formal parts of the suit. In many states of the United States however, no such distinction exists. In England, since 1873, attorneys at law are by statute called solicitors.
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Coloq. A power , Coloq. letter , or Coloq. warrant , Coloq. of attorney , a written authority from one person empowering another to transact business for him.
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Attorney (�), v. t. To perform by proxy; to employ as a proxy. [Obs.] Shak.
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Attorney-general (�), n.; (pl. Attorney-generals or Attorneys-general). (Law) The chief law officer of the state, empowered to act in all litigation in which the law-executing power is a party, and to advise this supreme executive whenever required. Wharton.
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Attorneyism (�), n. The practice or peculiar cleverness of attorneys.
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Attorneyship, n. The office or profession of an attorney; agency for another. Shak.
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Attornment (�), n. [OF. attornement, LL. attornamentum. See .] (Law) The act of a feudatory, vassal, or tenant, by which he consents, upon the alienation of an estate, to receive a new lord or superior, and transfers to him his homage and service; the agreement of a tenant to acknowledge the purchaser of the estate as his landlord. Burrill. Blackstone.
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Attract (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attracting.] [L. attractus, p. p. of attrahere; ad + trahere to draw. See , v. t.] 1. To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach, adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or decomposition.
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All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and one another. Derham.
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2. To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure; as, to attract admirers.
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Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. Milton.
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Syn. -- To draw; allure; invite; entice; influence.
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Attract, n. Attraction. [Obs.] Hudibras.
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Attractability (�), n. The quality or fact of being attractable. Sir W. Jones.
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Attractable (�), a. Capable of being attracted; subject to attraction. -- Attractableness, n.
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Attracter (�), n. One who, or that which, attracts.
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Attractile (�), a. Having power to attract.
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Attracting, a. That attracts. -- Attractingly, adv.
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Attraction (�), n. [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.] 1. (Physics) An invisible power in a body by which it draws anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to produce their cohesion or combination, and conversely resisting separation.
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☞ Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible distances, and is variously denominated according to its qualities or phenomena. Under attraction at sensible distances, there are, --
(1.) Coloq. Attraction of gravitation , which acts at all distances throughout the universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely to the square of their distances apart.
(2.) Coloq. Magnetic , Coloq. diamagnetic , and Coloq. electrical attraction , each of which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in its action, a property dependent on the quality or condition of matter, and not on its quantity.
Under attraction at insensible distances, there are, --
(1.) Coloq. Adhesive attraction , attraction between surfaces of sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening substance.
(2.) Coloq. Cohesive attraction , attraction between ultimate particles, whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the process of solidification or crystallization. The power in adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of cohesion.
(3.) Coloq. Capillary attraction , attraction causing a liquid to rise, in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid. It is a special case of cohesive attraction.
(4.) Coloq. Chemical attraction , or Coloq. affinity , that peculiar force which causes elementary atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules.
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2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power or operation of attraction. Newton.
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3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or engaging; an attractive quality; as, the attraction of beauty or eloquence.
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4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature.
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Syn. -- Allurement; enticement; charm.
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Attraction sphere. 1. (Zoöl.) (a) The central mass of the aster in mitotic cell division; centrosphere. (b) Less often, the mass of archoplasm left by the aster in the resting cell.
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2. (Bot.) A small body situated on or near the nucleus in the cells of some of the lower plants, consisting of two centrospheres containing centrosomes. It exercises an important function in mitosis.
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Attractive (�), a. [Cf. F. attractif.] 1. Having the power or quality of attracting or drawing; as, the attractive force of bodies. Sir I. Newton.
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2. Attracting or drawing by moral influence or pleasurable emotion; alluring; inviting; pleasing. “Attractive graces.” Milton. “Attractive eyes.” Thackeray.
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Flowers of a livid yellow, or fleshy color, are most attractive to flies. Lubbock.
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-- Attractively, adv. -- Attractiveness, n.
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Attractive, n. That which attracts or draws; an attraction; an allurement.
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Speaks nothing but attractives and invitation. South.
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