At-tĕnt'ive, a.

a. [Fr. attentif.] Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care. It 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, together with the senses above mentioned, as when a person is attentive to the words, and to the manner and matter, of a speaker at the same time. Syn.—Heedful; intent; observant; mindful; regardful; circumspect; watchful. See YIELDING.