[at.tain] vb [ME atteynen, fr. OF ataindre, fr. (assumed) VL attangere, alter. of L attingere, fr. ad- + tangere to touch--more at tangent] vt (14c) 1: to reach as an end: gain, achieve "~ a goal"
2: to come into possession of: obtain "he ~ed preferment over his fellows"
3: to come to as the end of a progression or course of movement "they ~ed the top of the hill" "~ a ripe old age" ~ vi: to come or arrive by motion, growth, or effort--usu. used with to -- at.tain.abil.i.ty n -- at.tain.able adj