Advertency

/ədˈvɜr.tən.si/ noun

Definition

Attention, notice, or awareness; the state of directing one's mind toward something.

Etymology

From Latin 'advertentia' (attention, care) via 'advertent' (attentive), with the '-cy' suffix. This is essentially a variant of 'advertence,' both developed in English to represent the abstract quality of paying attention.

Kelly Says

Both 'advertency' and 'advertence' mean the same thing, but 'advertency' is used more in philosophy and theology, while 'advertence' appears more in modern English—showing how synonyms can drift into different specialized contexts.

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