attaineth

Verb

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

1. (transitive) 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; […]1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature...
2. (figuratively, transitive) 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.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]...
3. (figuratively, transitive) 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.

   Synonyms:

   arrive at, get, reach, accomplish, acquire, catch, earn, fulfill, gain, get one's hands on

4. (archaic, figuratively, transitive) To gain possession of (something tangible or intangible) through effort; to acquire, to obtain.
   • [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...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...

   Synonyms:

   achieve, acquire, collect, earn, find, gain, gather, get, obtain, procure

5. (obsolete, transitive) To reach (someone) after being behind them.
   • 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.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...

   Synonyms:

   catch up with, overtake

6. (figuratively, obsolete, transitive) 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.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...

   Synonyms:

   catch, check, come upon, detect, determine, discover, disinter, find, fish up, identify

See all 17 meanings of attain