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Consummate vs Attain - What's the difference?

consummate | attain |

In transitive terms the difference between consummate and attain

is that consummate is to make (a marriage) complete by engaging in first sexual intercourse while attain is to reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.

In intransitive terms the difference between consummate and attain

is that consummate is to become perfected, receive the finishing touch while attain is to come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.

As an adjective consummate

is complete in every detail, perfect, absolute.

consummate

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Complete in every detail, perfect, absolute.
  • * Addison
  • A man of perfect and consummate virtue.
  • * 1900 , ",
  • Belinda Bellonia Bunting//Behaved like a consummate loon
  • * 1880 , ,
  • highly skilled and experienced; fully qualified
  • * a consummate sergeant
  • * ,
  • The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, ; thus it is in his power to control success.

    Synonyms

    * (complete) absolute, complete, perfect, sheer, total, utter

    Derived terms

    * consummately

    Verb

    (consummat)
  • To bring (a task, project, goal etc.) to completion; to accomplish.
  • *
  • *
  • To make perfect, achieve, give the finishing touch
  • To make (a marriage) complete by engaging in first sexual intercourse.
  • After the reception, he escorted her to the honeymoon suite to consummate their marriage.
  • * 1890 , Giovanni Boccacio, translated by James MacMullen Rigg, ,
  • To become perfected, receive the finishing touch
  • Synonyms

    * (bring to completion) complete, finish, round off

    Derived terms

    * consummation * consummative * consummator * consummatory

    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)