ATTAIN

attain. Attain, v. to come to, reach, or gain by an effort

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At‐tain″ (ăt‐tān″), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attained (–tānd″); 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. 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. 2. To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire. Chaucer.
3. 3. To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.
Not well attaining his meaning. Fuller. 4. 4. To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at. “Canaan he now attains.” Milton.
5. 5. To overtake. Bacon.
6. 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.