attain

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To come to or reach (a place) by motion or progression.

   • Canaan he novv attains, I ſee his Tents / Pitcht about Sechem, and the neighbouring Plaine / Of Moreh; […]
   • Now had they almost attained / The palace portal.
2. 2

   To arrive at (a certain age or time, condition or state, etc.)

   To arrive at (a certain age or time, condition or state, etc.); to reach.

   • Night hangs vpon mine eyes, my Bones vvould reſt, / That have but labour'd, to attaine this houre.
   • 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.
3. 3

   To gain (a desired result or other objective) through effort

   To gain (a desired result or other objective) through effort; to accomplish, to achieve.

   • To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.
   • Roſse [William de Ros, 6th Baron Ros]. Your preſence makes Vs rich, moſt noble Lord. / VVil. [William Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby de Eresby]. And far ſurmounts our labour to attaine it.
   • […] Reaſon is not as Senſe, and Memory, borne vvith us; nor gotten by Experience onely, as Prudence is; but attayned by Induſtry; […]
4. ›+ 5 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort

      To gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort; to acquire, to obtain.

      • [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 […]
      • 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.
   2. 5

      To reach (someone) after being behind them.

   3. 6

      To find out (information, knowledge, etc.)

      To find out (information, knowledge, etc.); to ascertain, to get at.

      • [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.
      • 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.
      • I cannot attain the exact date of the death of John Overall, carrying Superintendency in his Surname, the Biſhop of Norvvich; […]
   4. 7

      Often followed by to.

      • For, scarce a spear's length from his haunch, / Vindictive toiled the blood-hounds staunch; / Nor nearer might the dogs attain, / Nor farther might the quarry strain.
   5. 8

      Synonym of attainment.

      • —A gulf of years then severed the twain; / Till he heard—a painter of high attain— / She was dying on her domain.

The neighborhood

• neighborattainder
• neighborattaint
• neighborattainture