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