Definition: attain

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

attain
     v 1: to gain with effort: "she achieved her goal despite
          setbacks." [syn: achieve, accomplish, reach]
     2: 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" [syn: reach, hit]
     3: find unexpectedly: "the archeologists chanced upon an old
        tomb"; "she struck a goldmine"; "The hikers finally struck
        the main path to the lake" [syn: fall upon, strike, come
        upon, light upon, chance upon, come across, chance
        on, happen upon, discover]
     4: reach a destination, either real or abstract; "We hit
        Detroit by noon"; "The water reached the doorstep"; "We
        barely made the plane"; "I have to hit the MAC machine
        before the weekend starts" [syn: reach, make, hit, arrive
        at, gain]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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. --Acts
                                                  xxvii. 12.

            Nor nearer might the dogs attain.     --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

            To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber.
                                                  --Cowper.

            Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as
            this.                                 --J. R. Green.

   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.             --Ps. cxxxix.
                                                  6.

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.

            Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the
            means?                                --Abp.
                                                  Tillotson.

   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.       --Fuller.

   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.

   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.

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