attainment
(əˈteɪnmənt)
[f. attain v. + -ment; cf. OF. ataignement, mod. atteignement.]
† 1. Encroachment. (Cf. attain v. 4.) Obs.
| 1384 in Arnold Chron. (1811) 19 Landis and tenementis..free and quyt of alle maner axions, axing, and attenement. |
2. The action or process of attaining, reaching, or acquiring by effort. (No pl.)
| 1549 Bk. Com. Prayer Edw. VI, Holy Com. (1852) 311 Towards the attainment of everlasting salvation. 1636 Healey Epictetus' Man. xxix. 34 Dost thou ayme at the attainment of wisedome? 1872 Yeats Growth Comm. 294 The primary object of their voyages was often impossible of attainment. |
3. That which is attained or acquired by continued effort; esp. a personal acquirement or accomplishment.
| a 1680 Glanvill (J.) Men that count it a great attainment to be able to talk much. 1736 Ainsworth Lat. Dict. (1751) Pref. 12 A man of good attainments. 1824 Dibdin Libr. Comp. 55 A prelate and poet of very distinguished attainments. |
b. more abstractly. (No pl.)
| 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. iv, No mortal's endeavour or attainment will..content [him]. 1868 M. Pattison Academ. Org. §3. 47 The cause of the inefficiency of the teaching in Oxford in the old days was..the low standard of attainment in the place. |