attain

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to reach a point in time, or a certain state or level

   After years of practice, I attained a black belt in judo.

2. 2
   verb

   to reach a destination, either real or abstract

   After hours of driving, I finally attained my house.

3. 3
   verb

   to gain with effort

   I attained a blackbelt.

4. 4
   verb

   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; […]

5. 5
   verb

   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.

6. 6
   verb

   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.

7. 7
   verb

   To gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort; to acquire, to obtain.

   [K]ing Edwarde [IV] returned, and wͭ much leſſe nũber thẽ [number then [than]] he had, at Barnet on theſtre daye felde [the Easter Day field], ſlewe the Erle of warwik [Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick] wͭ many other great eſtates of yͤ partie, ⁊ ſo ſtably attained the crowne againe, that he peaſſybly enioyed it vntil his dieng day: […]

8. 8
   verb

   To reach (someone) after being behind them.

   The Earle finding the Caſtle freed, and the Enemie retired, purſued vvith all celeritie into Scotland, hoping to haue ouer-taken the Scottiſh King, and to haue giuen him Battaile. But not attaining him in time, ſate dovvne before the Caſtle of Aton […] vvhich in a ſmall time hee tooke.

Etymology

The verb is derived from Middle English atteinen, atteynen (“to achieve, attain; to be adequate or sufficient; to affect; to come or get to (a place), reach; to corrupt, taint; to overcome, overpower; to overtake; to succeed; to tamper with; (law) to bring to justice, punish”), from ataign-, a stem of Anglo-Norman ataindre, and Old French ataindre, attaindre (“to reach”) (modern French atteindre), from Vulgar Latin *attangere, from Latin attingere, the present active infinitive of attingō (“to come into contact with, touch; to affect; to arrive at, reach; etc.”), from ad- (prefix indicating a…