attentional
|a-ten-tion-al|
/əˈtɛnʃənəl/
relating to attention
Etymology
'attentional' derives from the English noun 'attention' combined with the adjectival suffix '-al'. 'Attention' ultimately comes from Latin 'attentio/attendere', where 'ad-' meant 'to/toward' and 'tendere' meant 'to stretch or direct'.
'attentional' developed from Middle English forms of 'attention' (via Old French 'atencion' < Latin 'attentio'), with the adjective formed in English by adding the suffix '-al' to yield 'attentional'.
Initially related to the Latin sense of 'stretching toward' or 'direction', it came to mean 'the act of attending' (attention) and later the adjective 'attentional' evolved to mean 'relating to attention' or processes involving attention.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to attention or the cognitive process of attending; concerning the allocation of mental focus.
The researchers measured attentional changes during the task.
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Adjective 2
in psychology, describing effects, biases, or mechanisms that are caused by or involve attention (e.g., attentional bias).
The study reported an attentional bias toward threat-related stimuli.
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Last updated: 2025/11/15 13:16