[uh-teyn] 
| 1. | to reach, achieve, or accomplish; gain; obtain: to attain one's goals. |
| 2. | to come to or arrive at, esp. after some labor or tedium; reach: to attain the age of 96; to attain the mountain peak. |
| 3. | to arrive at or succeed in reaching or obtaining something (usually fol. by to or unto): to attain to knowledge. |
| 4. | to reach in the course of development or growth: These trees attain to remarkable height. |
| at·tain (ə-tān') v. at·tained, at·tain·ing, at·tains v. tr.
To succeed in a directed effort, process, or progression: attained to high office; eventually attained to wisdom. [Middle English atteignen, from Old French ataindre, ataign-, to reach to, from Vulgar Latin *attangere, from Latin attingere : ad-, ad- + tangere, to touch; see tag- in Indo-European roots.] at·tain'a·bil'i·ty, at·tain'a·ble·ness n., at·tain'a·ble adj. |
