attain

[At*tainĀ·]

The verb attain is all about reaching some mark of achievement. You can attain a goal. You can even attain a destination. If you consistently have the highest grades in your class, you might attain a reputation for success.

...

To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest.

Verb
reach a point in time, or a certain state or level; "The thermometer hit 100 degrees"; "This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour"

Verb
reach a destination, either real or abstract; "We hit Detroit by noon"; "The water reached the doorstep"; "We barely made it to the finish line"; "I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts"

Verb
find unexpectedly; "the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb"; "she struck a goldmine"; "The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake"

Verb
to gain with effort; "she achieved her goal despite setbacks"


v. t.
To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest.

v. t.
To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire.

v. t.
To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.

v. t.
To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.

v. t.
To overtake.

v. t.
To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.

v. i.
To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.

v. i.
To come or arrive, by an effort of mind.

n.
Attainment.


Attain

At*tain" , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attained ; p. pr. & vb. n. Attaining.] [Of. atteinen, atteignen, tainen, OF. ateindre, ataindre, F. atteindre, fr. L. attingere; ad + tangere to touch, reach. See Tangent, and cf. Attinge, Attaint.] 1. To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest.
Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means?
2. To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire. [Obs. with a material object.] Chaucer. 3. To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain. [Obs.]
Not well attaining his meaning.
4. To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at. "Canaan he now attains." Milton. 5. To overtake. [Obs.] Bacon. 6. To reach in excellence or degree; to equal. Syn. -- To Attain, Obtain, Procure. Attain always implies an effort toward an object. Hence it is not synonymous with obtain and procure, which do not necessarily imply such effort or motion. We procure or obtain a thing by purchase or loan, and we obtain by inheritance, but we do not attain it by such means.

Attain

At*tain", v. i. 1. To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.
If by any means they might attain to Phenice.
Nor nearer might the dogs attain.
To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber.
Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this.
2. To come or arrive, by an effort of mind.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it.

Attain

At*tain", n. Attainment. [Obs.]

To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest.

To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.

Attainment.

...

Usage Examples

Belief is nothing but a more vivid, lively, forcible, firm, steady conception of an object, than what the imagination alone is ever able to attain.

Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything.

And as long as you're subject to birth and death, you'll never attain enlightenment.

As a father, my first priority is to help my sons set and attain personal goals so they will develop self-confidence and individual strength. Engaging in regular fitness activities with my children helps me fulfill those responsibilities.

For a man to attain to an eminent degree in learning costs him time, watching, hunger, nakedness, dizziness in the head, weakness in the stomach, and other inconveniences.

And I pray thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face.

A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who possess it. This must be understood from the very beginning. One must learn from him who knows.

Misspelled Form

attain, qattain, wattain, sattain, zattain, qttain, wttain, sttain, zttain, aqttain, awttain, asttain, azttain, arttain, a5ttain, a6ttain, ayttain, agttain, artain, a5tain, a6tain, aytain, agtain, atrtain, at5tain, at6tain, atytain, atgtain, atrtain, at5tain, at6tain, atytain, atgtain, atrain, at5ain, at6ain, atyain, atgain, attrain, att5ain, att6ain, attyain, attgain, attqain, attwain, attsain, attzain, attqin, attwin, attsin, attzin, attaqin, attawin, attasin, attazin, attauin, atta8in, atta9in, attaoin, attajin, attakin, attaun, atta8n, atta9n, attaon, attajn, attakn, attaiun, attai8n, attai9n, attaion, attaijn, attaikn, attaibn, attaihn, attaijn, attaimn, attai n, attaib, attaih, attaij, attaim, attai , attainb, attainh, attainj, attainm, attain .

Other Usage Examples

A fascist is one whose lust for money or power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends.

I do know that some Buddhists are able to attain peace of mind.

I am an enthusiast, but not a crank in the sense that I have some pet theories as to the proper construction of a flying machine. I wish to avail myself of all that is already known and then, if possible, add my mite to help on the future worker who will attain final success.

Favored Nations is a long-term commitment. Our hope is that those who are passionate about real musicianship will want to hear and own most of our albums. We will set out to attain the same direct relationship with our customers that we have with our artists.

Chastity is the cement of civilization and progress. Without it there is no stability in society, and without it one cannot attain the Science of Life.

Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.

Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.

Comments


Browse Dictionary