attain
[ uh-teyn ]
/ əˈteɪn /
verb (used with object)
to reach, achieve, or accomplish; gain; obtain: to attain one's goals.
to come to or arrive at, especially after some labor or tedium; reach: to attain the age of 96; to attain the mountain peak.
verb (used without object)
to arrive at or succeed in reaching or obtaining something (usually followed by to or unto): to attain to knowledge.
to reach in the course of development or growth: These trees attain to remarkable height.
Origin of attain
1300–50; Middle English
atei(g)nen < Anglo-French, Old French
ateign- (stem of
ateindre) < Vulgar Latin
*attangere (for Latin
attingere), equivalent to Latin
at-
at- +
tangere to touch
OTHER WORDS FROM attain
Words nearby attain
attack,
attack ad,
attack dog,
attack rate,
attagirl,
attain,
attainable,
attainder,
attainment,
attainment target,
attaint
Example sentences from the Web for attaining
British Dictionary definitions for attaining
attain
/ (əˈteɪn) /
verb
(tr)
to achieve or accomplish (a task, goal, aim, etc)
(tr)
to reach or arrive at in space or time
to attain old age
(intr often foll by to)
to arrive (at) with effort or exertion
to attain to glory
Derived forms of attain
attainable, adjective attainability or attainableness, nounWord Origin for attain
C14: from Old French
ateindre, from Latin
attingere to reach, from
tangere to touch