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Attain vs Procure - What's the difference?

attain | procure | Related terms |

Procure is a synonym of attain.



In transitive terms the difference between attain and procure

is that attain is to reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at while procure is to obtain a person as a prostitute for somebody else.

In obsolete terms the difference between attain and procure

is that attain is to overtake while procure is to cause to come; to bring; to attract.

attain

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To accomplish; to achieve.
  • To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.
  • To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.
  • * Fuller
  • not well attaining his meaning
  • To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.
  • * Milton
  • Canaan he now attains .
  • * Bible, Psalms cxxxix. 6
  • Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it.
  • To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.
  • * Bible, Acts xxvii. 12
  • if by any means they might attain to Phenice
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • Nor nearer might the dogs attain .
  • * Cowper
  • to see your trees attain to the dignity of timber
  • * J. R. Green
  • Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this.
  • To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.
  • (obsolete) To overtake.
  • (Francis Bacon)

    procure

    English

    Verb

    (procur)
  • To acquire or obtain.
  • * Milton
  • if we procure not to ourselves more woe
  • *
  • Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures, besides various tools and, finally, the machinery for the windmill. How these were to be procured , no one was able to imagine.
  • To obtain a person as a prostitute for somebody else.
  • (criminal law) To induce or persuade someone to do something.
  • (obsolete) To contrive; to bring about; to effect; to cause.
  • * Robynson (More's Utopia)
  • By all means possible they procure to have gold and silver among them in reproach.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall.
  • (obsolete) To solicit; to entreat.
  • * Spenser
  • The famous Briton prince and faery knight, / Of the fair Alma greatly were procured / To make there longer sojourn and abode.
  • (obsolete) To cause to come; to bring; to attract.
  • * Shakespeare
  • What unaccustomed cause procures her hither?

    Synonyms

    * (acquire) obtain * (obtain a prostitute) buy, purchase

    References

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