Meaning

noun paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)

noun the trait of being considerate and thoughtful of others

noun the trait of being observant and paying attention

originEtymology tree English attentive Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English attentiveness From attentive + -ness.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0