From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Attain \At*tain"\ ([a^]t*t[=a]n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Attained (-t[=a]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Attaining.] [Of.
atteinen, atteignen, atainen, 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.
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Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the
means? --Abp.
Tillotson.
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2. To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire. [Obs. with a
material object.] --Chaucer.
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3. To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain. [Obs.]
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Not well attaining his meaning. --Fuller.
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4. To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive
at. "Canaan he now attains." --Milton.
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5. To overtake. [Obs.] --Bacon.
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6. To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.
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Syn: To Attain, Obtain, Procure.
Usage: 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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Attain \At*tain"\, n.
Attainment. [Obs.]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
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If by any means they might attain to Phenice. --Acts
xxvii. 12.
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Nor nearer might the dogs attain. --Sir W.
Scott.
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To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber.
--Cowper.
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Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as
this. --J. R. Green.
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2. To come or arrive, by an effort of mind.
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Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high,
I can not attain unto it. --Ps. cxxxix.
6.
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