小词详解 | attain
attain 英 [əˈteɪn] 美 [əˈteɪn]
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外刊例句
Shortly thereafter it said it would provide customers with 12.3m barrels a day (b/d) in April, about 25% more than it supplied last month—and a level it has never before attained.
此后不久，沙特表示将在4月为客户供应每日1230万桶原油，比2月时增加约25％，是它从未达到过的产量水平。
——《经济学人》Galloping quarter horses top out around 47 miles per hour, while sluggish humans, in the person of the world record 100-meter sprinter Usain Bolt, have attained a top speed of less than 28 miles per hour.
疾速奔跑的夸特马速度最高可达每小时47英里左右，而行动迟缓的人类，即便是创造了世界100米纪录的短跑运动员尤塞恩·博尔特，最快的速度也还不到每小时28英里。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[verb] succeed in achieving (something that one desires and has worked for)
[动词] 成功地实现（某人渴望并为之努力的事情）
深入解读
Attain 是一个与熟词 obtain （获得、赢得）既同词根又含义容易混淆的单词。其中， attain 一词由前缀 at- （加强）+ 词根 tain, ten, tin （拿住）构成，14世纪出现在英语中后即用来表示“达到、获得”，侧重指在抱负或雄心的激励下，经过大量努力实现一般所不及或不敢追求的目的，或者说超出大多数人视野、范围或能力的目的，比如：
跟你说实话，杰克就快要拿到飞行员执照了。
To be candid with you, Jack is halfway to attaining his pilot's licence.在我看来真不可思议，他在音乐考试中得了最高分。
It's a marvel to me that he has attained the highest grade in his music exams.
在这个概念下， attain 还常作正式用语表示“到达、进入、实现”某个特定的年龄、大小、数量、水平、状态、情况等，既包括努力实现而来，也可以指自然发展而来，比如：
海豚在水中可以到达人类无法企及的速度。
Dolphins can attain speeds in water which man cannot yet emulate.
权威用例
不敢腐的目标初步实现，不能腐的笼子越扎越牢，不想腐的堤坝正在构筑，反腐败斗争压倒性态势已经形成并巩固发展。
The goal of creating a deterrent against corruption has been initially attained; the cage of institutions that prevents corruption has been strengthened; and moral defenses against corruption are in the making. The anti-corruption campaign has built into a crushing tide, and is being consolidated and developed.
出自十九大报告《决胜全面建成小康社会 夺取新时代中国特色社会主义伟大胜利》（Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era）。
同近义词
gain: obtain or secure (something desired, favorable, or profitable)
compass: contrive to accomplish (something)
procure: obtain (something), especially with care or effort
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