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more about attain
attain |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Attain \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. 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 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Attain \At*tain"\, n. Attainment. [Obs.] From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: attain v 1: to gain with effort: "she achieved her goal despite setbacks." [syn: {achieve}, {accomplish}, {reach}] 2: reach a point in time, or a certain state or level; "The thermometer hit 100 degrees"; "This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour" [syn: {reach}, {hit}] 3: reach a destination, either real or abstract; "We hit Detroit by noon"; "The water reached the doorstep"; "We barely made the plane"; "I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts" [syn: {reach}, {make}, {hit}, {arrive at}, {gain}]
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