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at·tain  (ə-tān)
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Tweet v. at·tained, at·tain·ing, at·tains v.tr. 1. To gain as an objective; achieve: attain a diploma by hard work. 2. To come to or arrive at, as through movement, growth, or the passage of time: Redwoods can attain a height of 300 feet. v.intr. To succeed in a directed effort, process, or progression: attained to high office; eventually attained to wisdom. [Middle English atteinen, from Old French ataindre, ataign-, to reach to, from Vulgar Latin *attangere, from Latin attingere : ad-, ad- + tangere, to touch; see tag- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] at·tain′a·bili·ty n. at·taina·ble adj. |
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