attain - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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”),[1] 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,[2] the present active infinitive of attingō (“to come into contact with, touch; to affect; to arrive at, reach; etc.”), from ad- (prefix indicating a nearing or reaching) (appearing as at- due to assimilation with the following t, inducing gemination) + tangō (“to grasp, touch; to arrive at, reach; to attain; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- (“to grasp; to touch”)). Doublet of attainder and attinge.

The noun is derived from the verb.[3]

attain (third-person singular simple present attains, present participle attaining, simple past and past participle attained)

  1. (transitive)
    1. To come to or reach (a place) by motion or progression.
    2. (figurative)
      1. To arrive at (a certain age or time, condition or state, etc.); to reach.
        * 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v], page 130, column 1:
        Night hangs vpon mine eyes, my Bones vvould reſt, / That have but labour'd, to attaine this houre.
        * 1791 (date written), Mary Wollstonecraft, “Observations on the State of Degradation to which Woman is Reduced by Various Causes”, in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1792, →OCLC, page 150:
        It has also been aſſerted, by ſome naturaliſts, that men do not attain their full grovvth and ſtrength till thirty; but that vvomen arrive at maturity by tvventy.
        * 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Leg and Arm. The Pequod, of Nantucket, Meets the Samuel Enderby, of London.”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 486:
        Now, it is no very easy matter for anybody—except those who are almost hourly used to it, like whalemen—to clamber up a ship's side from a boat on the open sea; […] So, deprived of one leg, and the strange ship of course being altogether unsupplied with the kindly invention, Ahab now found himself abjectly reduced to a clumsy landsman again; hopelessly eyeing the uncertain changeful height he could hardly hope to attain.
      2. To gain (a desired result or other objective) through effort; to accomplish, to achieve.
        Synonyms: arrive at, get, reach; see also Thesaurus:achieve
        To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.
        * 1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], signature E2, recto:
        * 1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of Reason, and Science”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Of Man), page 21:
        […] Reaſon is not as Senſe, and Memory, borne vvith us; nor gotten by Experience onely, as Prudence is; but attayned by Induſtry; […]
        * 1680, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], 5th edition, Edinburgh: […] Iohn Cairns, […], →OCLC, page 102:
        Suppoſe a man; a Miniſter, or a Tradeſman, &c. ſhould have an advantage lie before him, to get the good bleſſings of this life; yet ſo, as that he can by no means come by them, except in appearance, at leaſt, he becomes extraordinarily zealous in ſome points of Religion, that he medled not vvith before, may he not uſe theſe means to attain his end, and yet be a right honeſt man?
        * 1742, John Wesley, Charles Wesley, “Unto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans, [Revelation II] ver[se] 14, &c. Part II.”, in Hymns and Sacred Poems, Bristol: […] Felix Farley, […], →OCLC, part II, stanza 8, page 299:
        O might VVe thro' Thy Grace attain / The Faith Thou never vvilt reprove, […]
        * 1835, [William Frederick Deacon], “A Second Matrimonial Catastrophe—the Progress of Quackery—a Fit of the Horrors”, in The Exile of Erin; or, The Sorrows of a Bashful Irishman. […], volume II, London: Whittaker and Co., […], →OCLC, 3rd book (The Village Doctor), page 34:
        While Genius trudges a-foot, and by many a thorny, circuitous route, ascends the hill of fame, thou bowlest along in thy chariot, and attainest the same sunny eminence with scarce an effort.
        * 1885, W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert; Arthur Sullivan, composer, […] The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu, London: Chappel & Co., […], →OCLC, Act I, page 6:
        Ko-Ko, the cheap tailor, Lord High Executioner of Titipu! Why, that's the highest rank a citizen can attain!
        * 1937 March 8, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter V, in The Road to Wigan Pier, London: Victor Gollancz, published May 1937, →OCLC, part I, page 82:
        [T]o write books you need not only comfort and solitude – and solitude is never easy to attain in a working-class home – you also need peace of mind.
        * 1964 July, S. W. Smart, “The Southern Needs No Centralised Control”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 50:
        But an absolutely right time arrival of all trains on the same day is never attained.
      3. (archaic) To gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort; to acquire, to obtain.
        Synonyms: see Thesaurus:acquire
        * c. 1513 (date written), Thomas More, “The History of King Richard the Thirde (Vnfinished) […]”, in Wyllyam Rastell [_i.e._, William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, page 60:
        [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: […]
        * 1523 February 7 (Gregorian calendar), Johan Froyssart [_i.e._, Jean Froissart], “Howe Kyng Edwarde [III] of Ingland Toke the Towne of Berwyke ageynst the Scottis”, in Here Begynneth the First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart: Of the Cronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne⸝ Portyngale⸝ Scotlande⸝ Bretayne⸝ Flañders: And Other Places Adioynynge. […], 1st volume, London: […] Richarde Pynson⸝ […], →OCLC; reprinted as The First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart of the Chronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne (The English Experience […]; no. 257), Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, 1970, →ISBN, folio xv, verso, column 2:
        [T]hey reported their aduiſe to the kyng exortyng hym to prouyde for his force and ſtrength of men of warre⸝ to atteyne therby the towne of Berwike […]
        * 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Innovations”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 139:
        Yet notvvithſtanding, as Thoſe that firſt bring Honour into their Family, are commonly more vvorthy, then moſt that ſucceed: So the firſt Preſident (if it be good) is ſeldome attained by Imitation.
        * 1656, [Samuel Holland], chapter IV, in Wit and Fancy in a Maze. Or The Incomparable Champion of Love and Beautie. A Mock-romance. […], London: […] T. W. for Tho[mas] Vere, […], →OCLC, pages 171–172:
        Though I cannot prove hovv, or vvhere thou attainedſt thoſe glorious Arms, that Achillean Shield, and that ſtrong Steed, yet I vvill make it good on thy Carrion Corſe, that thou cameſt Felloniouſly by them; […]
    3. (obsolete)
      1. To reach (someone) after being behind them.
        Synonyms: catch up with, overtake
        * 1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [_i.e._ Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC, page 174:
        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.
      2. (figurative) To find out (information, knowledge, etc.); to ascertain, to get at.
        Synonyms: see Thesaurus:discover
        * 1574, Augustine Marlorate [_i.e._, Augustin Marlorat], “[Revelation 1:1]”, in Arthur Golding, transl., A Catholike Exposition vpon the Reuelation of Sainct Iohn. […], London: […] H[enry] Binneman, for L[ucas] Harison, and G[eorge] Bishop, →OCLC, folio 3, recto:
        [I]t pleaſeth God to diſcouer certayne things to his ſeruantes after this maner at the fyrſte ſpringing vp of the Goſpell: of whiche thyng we may now atteyne manifeſt knowledge by his worde.
        * 1655, Thomas Fuller, “Thomæ Hanson, Amico meo”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book III, page 65:
        And yet Maſter [William] Camden, ſometimes acknovvledgeth, ſometimes denieth him for an Engliſh Earle. Not that I accuſe him as inconſtant to himſelf, but ſuſpect my ſelf not vvell attaining his meaning therein.
        * 1655, Thomas Fuller, “Section V. To Master Peter Moroloys, and Master Thomas Rowse, of London, Merchants.”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book X, page 86:
        I cannot attain the exact date of the death of John Overall, carrying Superintendency in his Surname, the Biſhop of Norvvich; […]
  2. (intransitive) Often followed by to.
    1. (archaic) To come to or reach a place by motion or progression; to reach.
    2. (figurative)
      1. To arrive at a certain condition or state, etc.
        * 1782 November 11 (date written), William Cowper, “To Joseph Hill, Esq.”, in Private Correspondence of William Cowper, Esq. with Several of His Most Intimate Friends. […], volume I, London: […] [S[amuel] and R[ichard] Bentley] for Henry Colburn, […], and Simpkin and Marshall, […], published 1824, →OCLC, page 222:
        You may not, perhaps, live to see your trees attain to the dignity of timber—I, nevertheless, approve of your planting, and the disinterested spirit that prompts you to it.
      2. To gain possession of something tangible or intangible through effort.
        * 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Psalm cxxxviij:[6], folio xxxvij, recto, column 1:
        Such knowlege is to wonderfull ⁊ excellẽt [excellent] for me, I can not atteyne vnto it.
        * 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalm 139:6, signature Hhh3, recto, column 1:
        Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attaine vnto it.
        * 1742, John Wesley, Charles Wesley, “Titus ii. 11, &c.”, in Hymns and Sacred Poems, Bristol: […] Felix Farley, […], →OCLC, part II, stanza 19, page 267:
        The glorious Prize I novv purſue, / For full Redemption vvait, / And ſoon I ſhall attain unto / My primitive Eſtate.
        * 1874, J[ohn] R[ichard] Green, “England under Foreign Kings, 1013–1204”, in A Short History of the English People, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, section VI (The English Revival, 1071–1127), page 90:
        In London, for instance, the burgesses gathered in town-mote when the bell swung out from S. Paul's to deliberate freely on their own affairs under the presidency of their aldermen. […] Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this, but charter after charter during Henry [I]'s reign raised the townsmen of boroughs from mere traders, wholly at the mercy of their lord, into customary tenants, who had purchased their freedom by a fixed rent, regulated their own trade, and enjoyed exemption from all but their own justice.
    3. (obsolete)
      1. To come to or reach a position without moving from one place to another.
        * 1587, Philip of Mornay [_i.e._, Philippe de Mornay], “That God Gouerneth the World and All Things therein by His Prouidence”, in Philip Sidney, Arthur Golding, transl., A Woorke Concerning the Trewnesse of the Christian Religion, […], London: […] [John Charlewood and] George Robinson for Thomas Cadman, […], →OCLC, page 184:
        Now then, art thou afrayd leaſt God who careth for all things without care, moueth them without touching them, and atteyneth to them without putting himſelf foorth, is not able to wéeld theſe lower things without defyling himſelf by them?
        * 1646, Thomas Browne, “Of the Pictures of Easterne Nations, and the Jews at Their Feasts, Especially Our Saviour at the Passover”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 5th book, page 241:
        As for their geſture or poſition, the men lay dovvne [on couches in a triclinium] leaning on their left elbovv, their backe being advanced by ſome pillovv or ſoft ſubſtance; the ſecond lay ſo vvith his backe tovvards the firſt, that his head attained about his boſome, and the reſt in the ſame order: […]
      2. To extend or reach from one position to another; to stretch.
        * a. 1534 (date written), “How this Ladie Luke of Ostridge Sent for Iehannet, and Caused Her Secretly the First Night to Lie with Arthur, because that Perron was No Maide, to the Intent that Arthur should Not Perceiue It”, in Iohn Bourghcher Knight, Lord Barners [_i.e._, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners], transl., Arthur of Little Britaine. The History of the Most Noble and Valyant Knight, Arthur of Little Britaine, […], London: […] Thomas East, published [1582], →OCLC, folio 13, verso:
        [S]onne Arthur, you ſhall giue to Perron your wife this night the Charter of her endowrie, wherein is compriſed the land of the Citie of Saintes and of Pois, attaining to the bounds of Gaſgoine.
      3. (figurative)
        1. To find out information, knowledge, etc.
        * 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [_i.e._, John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cliiii, verso, column 2; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:
        I ſtudy tyll my braynes ake to ꝑceyue [perceive] this mater but I can nat attayne to it: […]
        2. To gain a desired result or other objective through effort.
        * 1523 February 7 (Gregorian calendar), Johan Froyssart [_i.e._, Jean Froissart], “Howe that Kyng Robert de Breux of Scotland Defyed Kyng Edward [I]”, in Here Begynneth the First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart: Of the Cronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne⸝ Portyngale⸝ Scotlande⸝ Bretayne⸝ Flañders: And Other Places Adioynynge. […], 1st volume, London: […] Richarde Pynson⸝ […], →OCLC; reprinted as The First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart of the Chronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne (The English Experience […]; no. 257), Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, 1970, →ISBN, folio vi, verso, column 2:
        [H]e ſent ſtreyght his letters ⁊ his meſſengers in euery place⸝ where as he thought to recouer⸝ or attaigne to haue any company of men of warre.
        * a. 1662 (date written), Thomas Fuller, “Buckingham-shire”, in The History of the Worthies of England, London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond,] W[illiam] L[eybourne] and W[illiam] G[odbid], published 1662, →OCLC, page 130:
        He [John Gregory] attained to be an exquiſite Linguiſt and general Scholar, his modeſty ſetting the greater luſtre on his learning.
        3. Of a person: to live to a certain age or time.
        * 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, IV. Essdras [2 Esdras] xj:[16–17], folio xvi, recto, column 1:
        Heare thou yͭ haſt kepte in the earth ſo lõge [longe], this I ſaye vnto the, before thou begynneſt to appeare nomore: There ſhal none after yͤ atteyne vnto thy tyme.
        * 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 47:9, signature E3, verso, column 1:
        The dayes of the yeeres of my pilgrimage are an hundred ⁊ thirtie yeres: few and euill haue the dayes of the yeeres of my life bene, and haue not attained vnto the dayes of the yeeres of the life of my fathers, in the dayes of their pilgrimage.
        4. Of a thing: to befall, to happen to someone.
        * 1534 (date written; published 1553), Thomas More, “A Dyalogue of Comforte agaynste Tribulacyon, […]. Chapter III.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [_i.e._, William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, book III, page 1217, column 1:
        As for the ſoule firſt, we ſhall nede no rehearſal of any harme that by this kinde of tribulacion maye attaine thereto: but if that by ſomme inordinate loue and affectiõ [affection] that the ſoule beare to the body, ſhe conſent to ſlide frõ [from] the faith, and thereby do her harme her ſelfe.

(transitive) to come to or reach (a place) by motion or progression; (intransitive) to come to or reach a place by motion or progression — see come to,‎ reach

(transitive) to arrive at (a certain age or time, condition or state, etc.); (intransitive) to arrive at a certain condition or state, etc. — see attain,‎ reach

(transitive) to gain (a desired result or other objective) through effort — see also accomplish,‎ achieve

(transitive) to gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort; (intransitive) to gain possession of something tangible or intangible through effort — see acquire,‎ obtain

attain (plural attains)

  1. (dated or archaic) Synonym of attainment.

    1. An act of arriving at or reaching; an act of obtaining by effort.
    2. That which is obtained by effort.
      • 1661, Joseph Glanvill, “An Apology for Philosophy”, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing: Or Confidence in Opinions. […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC, pages 237–238:
        Even Crovvns and Diadems, the moſt ſplendid parts of terrene attains; are akin to that, vvhich to day is in the field, and to morrovv is cut dovvn, and vvither'd: […]

  2. ^ “atteinen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

  3. ^ “attain, v.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2026; “attain, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

  4. ^ “attain, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2023.