attain

/əˈteɪn/

verb 15
noun 3
forms 6

verb15

•
To come to or reach (a place) by motion or progression.
- Canaan he novv attains, I see his Tents / Pitcht about Sechem, and the neighbouring Plaine / Of Moreh; […] — 1667
•
To gain (a desired result or other objective) through effort; to accomplish, to achieve.
- To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.
•
To gain possession of something tangible or intangible through effort.
- Such knowlege is to wonderfull ⁊ excellẽt [excellent] for me, I can not atteyne vnto it. — 1535
•
To arrive at (a certain age or time, condition or state, etc.); to reach.
- Night hangs vpon mine eyes, my Bones vvould rest, / That have but labour'd, to attaine this houre. — 1599
•
To arrive at a certain condition or state, etc.
- You may not, perhaps, live to see your trees attain to the dignity of timber—I, nevertheless, approve of your planting, and the disinterested spirit that prompts you to it. — 1782
•
(figurative, no longer used) To gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort; to acquire, to obtain.
- [T]hey reported their aduise to the kyng exortyng hym to prouyde for his force and strength of men of warre⸝ to atteyne therby the towne of Berwike […] — 1523
•
(figurative, no longer used) To gain a desired result or other objective through effort.
- [H]e sent streyght his letters ⁊ his messengers in euery place⸝ where as he thought to recouer⸝ or attaigne to haue any company of men of warre. — 1523
•
(figurative, no longer used) Of a person: to live to a certain age or time.
- Heare thou yͭ hast kepte in the earth so lõge [longe], this I saye vnto the, before thou begynnest to appeare nomore: There shal none after yͤ atteyne vnto thy tyme. — 1535
•
(no longer used) To come to or reach a place by motion or progression; to reach.
- For, scarce a spear's length from his haunch, / Vindictive toiled the blood-hounds staunch; / Nor nearer might the dogs attain, / Nor farther might the quarry strain. — 1810
•
(figurative, no longer used) To find out (information, knowledge, etc.); to ascertain, to get at.
- [I]t pleaseth God to discouer certayne things to his seruantes after this maner at the fyrste springing vp of the Gospell: of whiche thyng we may now atteyne manifest knowledge by his worde. — 1574
•
(figurative, no longer used) To find out information, knowledge, etc.
- I study tyll my braynes ake to ꝑceyue [perceive] this mater but I can nat attayne to it: […] — 1530
(no longer used) To reach (someone) after being behind them.
(no longer used) To come to or reach a position without moving from one place to another.
•
(no longer used) To extend or reach from one position to another; to stretch.
- [S]onne Arthur, you shall giue to Perron your wife this night the Charter of her endowrie, wherein is comprised the land of the Citie of Saintes and of Pois, attaining to the bounds of Gasgoine. — 1534
(figurative, no longer used) Of a thing: to befall, to happen to someone.

noun3

•
(no longer used) An act of arriving at or reaching; an act of obtaining by effort.
- —A gulf of years then severed the twain; / Till he heard—a painter of high attain— / She was dying on her domain. — 1925
•
(no longer used) That which is obtained by effort.
- Even Crovvns and Diadems, the most splendid parts of terrene attains; are akin to that, vvhich to day is in the field, and to morrovv is cut dovvn, and vvither'd: […] — 1661
(no longer used, old-fashioned) Synonym of attainment.

forms

attain'd · attained · attaining · attaineth · attains · attainest