Part 752

<h1>Attain</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tain"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Attained</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Attaining</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[Of. <ets>atteinen</ets>, <ets>atteignen</ets>, <ets><?/tainen</ets>, OF. <ets>ateindre</ets>, <ets>ataindre</ets>, F. <ets>atteindre</ets>, fr. L. <ets>attingere</ets>; <ets>ad + tangere</ets> to touch, reach. See <er>Tangent</er>, and cf. <er>Attinge</er>, <er>Attaint</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; <as>as, to <ex>attain</ex> rest</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Is he wise who hopes to <b>attain</b> the end without the means? <i>Abp. Tillotson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire.</def> <mark>[Obs. with a material object.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Not well <b>attaining</b> his meaning. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.</def> "Canaan he now <i>attains</i>."

<i>Milton.</i>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To overtake.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- To <er>Attain</er>, <er>Obtain</er>, <er>Procure</er>.</syn> <usage> <i>Attain</i> always implies <i>an effort toward</i> an object. Hence it is not synonymous with <i>obtain</i> and <i>procure</i>, which do not necessarily imply such effort or motion. We <i>procure</i> or <i>obtain</i> a thing by <i>purchase</i> or <i>loan</i>, and we <i>obtain</i> by inheritance, but we do not <i>attain</i> it by such means.</usage>

<h1>Attain</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tain"</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.</def>

<blockquote>If by any means they might <b>attain</b> to Phenice. <i>Acts xxvii. 12.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Nor nearer might the dogs <b>attain</b>. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>To see your trees <b>attain</b> to the dignity of timber. <i>Cowper.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Few boroughs had as yet <b>attained</b> to power such as this. <i>J. R. Green.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To come or arrive, by an effort of mind.</def>

<blockquote>Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not <b>attain</b> unto it. <i>Ps. cxxxix. 6.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Attain</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tain"</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Attainment.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Attainability</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tain`a*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being attainable; attainbleness.</def>

<h1>Attainable</h1> <Xpage=98>

<hw>At*tain"a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Capable of being attained or reached by efforts of the mind or body; capable of being compassed or accomplished by efforts directed to the object.</def>

<blockquote>The highest pitch of perfection <b>attainable</b> in this life. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>