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Attain vs Attend - What's the difference?

attain | attend |

In transitive terms the difference between attain and attend

is that attain is to reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at while attend is (to be present at) To be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings.

In intransitive terms the difference between attain and attend

is that attain is to come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach while attend is (to turn one's consideration to, deal with) To turn one's consideration ({{term|to}}); to deal with (a task, problem, concern etc.), to look after.

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)

    attend

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) attenden, atenden, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • ("to kindle").
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) attenden, atenden, from (etyl) ; see tend and compare attempt.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To listen to (something or someone); to pay attention to; regard; heed.
  • * Sir (Philip Sidney) (1554-1586)
  • The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskilful words of the passenger.
  • (archaic) To listen ((to), (unto)).
  • * , chapter=15
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cossack stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew's cap and bells.}}
  • To wait upon as a servant etc.; to accompany to assist (someone).
  • * (Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • The fifth had charge sick persons to attend .
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • Attends the emperor in his royal court.
  • * (1800-1859)
  • With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William thither.
  • (senseid)To be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=In the eyes of Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke the apotheosis of the Celebrity was complete. The people of Asquith were not only willing to attend the house-warming, but had been worked up to the pitch of eagerness. The Celebrity as a matter of course was master of ceremonies.}}
  • * 1994 , (Nelson Mandela), (Long Walk to Freedom) , Abacus 2010, p. 20:
  • I attended a one-room school next door to the palace and studied English, Xhosa, history and geography.
  • To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to.
  • * (John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • What cares must then attend the toiling swain.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=5, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite. There is something humiliating about it.
  • To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for.
  • * (John Locke) (1632-1705)
  • the state that attends all men after this
  • * (John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • Three days I promised to attend my doom.
    Synonyms
    * (listen to) behear