"Attend at" something
I stumbled upon this sentence in the news this morning:
Witnesses are requested to attend at the Melbourne West Police Station, 313 Spencer Street, Melbourne.
As a general matter, when would you use "attend at (sth.)"? I've been thinking about this for a bit now as it does seem to have a different meaning than "attend." I understand "attend at" to mean "come to" in the example sentence, but "attend" typically implies much more than a mere physical presence (a teacher may spend as much time in school as her class, but that doesn't mean she "attends school").
The one dictionary I found that does specifically mention the phrase is OED ("intr. Const., on the proceedings (obs.), at the place"), giving the example "He attends regularly at the City Temple." But the very brief definition leaves me wondering whether "attend at (sth.)" is completely synonymous with "come to" or conveys any additional meaning.
It is a legal usage of "attend " meaning:
- (Be present at), frequent, go to, visit (legal)
(legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary)
Usage examples:
From A Treatise on the Law and Practice of Bankruptcy:
- "shall be paid his actual expenses from the estate when examined or required to attend at any place other than the city, town, or village of his residence"
From A Treatise on the Law of Corporations :
- "while he was in the town, he had notice to attend at a session to be held on the 13th"
I can "attend a concert", "attend school", or "attend a meeting". That is OED sense 12a.
- To present oneself, for the purpose of taking some part in the proceedings, at a meeting for business, worship, instruction, entertainment. a. trans. e.g. to attend church, school, a lecture, a meeting, a funeral, the sittings of a court, also a place of worship.
1885 N.E.D. at Attend Mod. Did you attend the funeral? To attend school regularly.
But if it is merely my presence at a place which is being mentioned, then I will "attend at the police station", or "attend at the cathedral" (for the purposes other than a regular service - where one would simply "attend evensong")
This is OED sense 12b.
1885 N.E.D. at Attend Mod. He attends regularly at the City Temple.