attain

Verb
Synonyms: achieveaccomplishreachhitfall uponstrikecome uponlight uponchance uponcome acrosschance onhappen upon

WordNet 3.0

Verb (4)

  1. to gain with effort“she achieved her goal despite setbacks”Synonyms: achieveaccomplishreach
  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”Synonyms: reachhit
  3. find unexpectedly“the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb”“she struck a goldmine”“The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake”Synonyms: fall uponstrikecome uponlight uponchance uponcome acrosschance onhappen upondiscover
  4. reach a destination, either real or abstract“We hit Detroit by noon”“The water reached the doorstep”“We barely made it to the finish line”“I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts”Synonyms: reachmakehitarrive atgain
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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. [1913 Webster]

Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means?— Abp. Tillotson.[1913 Webster]

2.To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire. [Obs. with a material object.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

3.To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Not well attaining his meaning.— Fuller.[1913 Webster]

4.To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at. "Canaan he now attains." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5.To overtake. [Obs.] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

6.To reach in excellence or degree; to equal. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Attain \At*tain"\, n. Attainment. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]

If by any means they might attain to Phenice.— Acts xxvii. 12.[1913 Webster]
Nor nearer might the dogs attain.— Sir W. Scott.[1913 Webster]
To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber.— Cowper.[1913 Webster]
Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this.— J. R. Green.[1913 Webster]

2.To come or arrive, by an effort of mind. [1913 Webster]

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it.— Ps. cxxxix. 6.[1913 Webster]
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