attain
UK[əˈteɪn]US[əˈteɪn]
v
to succeed in getting something, usually after a lot of effort
v
to reach a particular level, age, size, etc.
Etymology
the verb 'attain' entered english in the 14th century from old french 'ataindre', meaning "to reach, to accomplish". this old french term itself evolved from latin 'attingere', a compound of 'ad-' (to) and 'tangere' (to touch). the core semantic thread from latin is the idea of "touching upon" or "reaching to" a point, which shifted in english to emphasize the successful achievement of a goal or state, often through effort. this evolution from a physical act of contact to an abstract accomplishment illustrates a common pathway in semantic development.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form derived from a latin root; it is not productively segmented into meaningful substrings in modern english spelling.
Examples
she finally attained her goal of becoming a doctor.
the plant can attain a height of over two meters.
he attained a position of great influence within the organization.