attention Copy link Outline I. The act or state of attending1. ănĭmadversĭo (rare2. attentus animus (the most perfect equiv. for the English word)3. intentio (both with and without animi or mentis)4. audĭentĭa (hearing)II. A polite act, obliging conduct1. sēdŭlĭtas (careful a.)2. observantĭa (esp. with ref. to a superior3. cultus, ūs (with ref. either to equals or to superiors) • attention: I. The act or state of attending: 1. ănĭmadversĭo (rare: and denoting notice, observation, rather than fixed attention): a. and care must be raised into activity, excitanda est a. et diligentia, Cic. 2. attentus animus (the most perfect equiv. for the English word): to listen to anything with a. and admiration (of a number of persons), aliquid animis attentis admirantes excipere, Cic.: to pay a. to the maintenance of propriety, attentos animos (attentum a. of one person) ad decoris conservationem tenere, Cic. (Similarly the word may be expr. by attenta auris, if listening be referred to; or attentum studium of earnest a. in general. Intentus may be used if the idea is that of intently fixing the mind upon something.) 3. intentio (both with and without animi or mentis): I will tell you if you will lend me your a., dicam si mihi accommodaveris intentionem tuam, Sen.: in. animi or mentis, Quint.: the a. of hearers, i. audientium, Quint.: nor let a discourse be so long that the a. cannot follow it to the end, nec sit sermo tam longus ut eum prosequi non possit i., Quint. 4. audĭentĭa (hearing): I foresee how much a. his unprincipled conduct will procure for my speech, prospicio quantam a. orationi meae improbitas illius factura sit, Cic.: Liv. Phr.: to gain the a. of a judge, judicem attentum facere, Cic.: to draw everybody's a. upon oneself, omnium oculos ad se convertere, Nep.: Curt; also simply, conspici, Liv.: Nep.: to attract a. by novelty in speaking, animos hominum ad se convertere novitate dicendi, Cic.: as the king was paying his whole a. to the man, cum intentus in eum se rex totus adverteret, Liv.: to pay a. in silence (to a play), (cum) silentio animum advertere, Ter.: Cic. II. A polite act, obliging conduct: 1. sēdŭlĭtas (careful a.): feigned a., simulata s., Cic.: obliging a., officiosa s., Hor. 2. observantĭa (esp. with ref. to a superior: but not solely): to retain friends by a., amicos observantia retinere, Cic.: a. to the king, o. in regem, Liv. 3. cultus, ūs (with ref. either to equals or to superiors): to those connected by blood, service and careful a. is paid, sanguine conjunctis officiam et diligens tribuitur c., Cic.: v. service, kindness; and foll. art.