2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  attained 
  adj  :  achieved  or  reached;  "the  actual  attained  achievement  test 
  score" 

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