All 30 Uses

attain
in
Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes
(Auto-generated)

And because the End, by the greatnesse of the impression, comes often to mind, in case our thoughts begin to wander, they are quickly again reduced into the way: which observed by one of the seven wise men, made him give men this praecept, which is now worne out, Respice Finem; that is to say, in all your actions, look often upon what you would have, as the thing that directs all your thoughts in the way to attain it.†
Chpt 1.3

attain = gain or reach something with effort
Secondly, to shew to others that knowledge which we have attained; which is, to Counsell, and Teach one another.†
Chpt 1.4

attained = gained or reached something with effort
Children therefore are not endued with Reason at all, till they have attained the use of Speech: but are called Reasonable Creatures, for the possibility apparent of having the use of Reason in time to come.†
Chpt 1.5
As first, when they one succeed another, they are diversly called from the opinion men have of the likelihood of attaining what they desire.†
Chpt 1.6 *

attaining = gaining or reaching something with effort
For Appetite with an opinion of attaining, is called HOPE.†
Chpt 1.6
Desire of Riches, COVETOUSNESSE: a name used alwayes in signification of blame; because men contending for them, are displeased with one anothers attaining them; though the desire in it selfe, be to be blamed, or allowed, according to the means by which those Riches are sought.†
Chpt 1.6
Of all Discourse, governed by desire of Knowledge, there is at last an End, either by attaining, or by giving over.†
Chpt 1.7
To be descended from conspicuous Parents, is Honourable; because they the more easily attain the aydes, and friends of their Ancestors.†
Chpt 1.10

attain = gain or reach something with effort
Felicity is a continuall progresse of the desire, from one object to another; the attaining of the former, being still but the way to the later.†
Chpt 1.11

attaining = gaining or reaching something with effort
And the cause of this, is not alwayes that a man hopes for a more intensive delight, than he has already attained to; or that he cannot be content with a moderate power: but because he cannot assure the power and means to live well, which he hath present, without the acquisition of more.†
Chpt 1.11

attained = gained or reached something with effort
Competition of Riches, Honour, command, or other power, enclineth to Contention, Enmity, and War: because the way of one Competitor, to the attaining of his desire, is to kill, subdue, supplant, or repell the other.†
Chpt 1.11

attaining = gaining or reaching something with effort
And as to the faculties of the mind, (setting aside the arts grounded upon words, and especially that skill of proceeding upon generall, and infallible rules, called Science; which very few have, and but in few things; as being not a native faculty, born with us; nor attained, (as Prudence,) while we look after somewhat els,) I find yet a greater equality amongst men, than that of strength.†
Chpt 1.13

attained = gained or reached something with effort
From this equality of ability, ariseth equality of hope in the attaining of our Ends.†
Chpt 1.13

attaining = gaining or reaching something with effort
And for the other Instance of attaining Soveraignty by Rebellion; it is manifest, that though the event follow, yet because it cannot reasonably be expected, but rather the contrary; and because by gaining it so, others are taught to gain the same in like manner, the attempt thereof is against reason.†
Chpt 1.15
There be some that proceed further; and will not have the Law of Nature, to be those Rules which conduce to the preservation of mans life on earth; but to the attaining of an eternall felicity after death; to which they think the breach of Covenant may conduce; and consequently be just and reasonable; (such are they that think it a work of merit to kill, or depose, or rebell against, the Soveraigne Power constituted over them by their own consent.)†
Chpt 1.15
The attaining to this Soveraigne Power, is by two wayes.†
Chpt 2.17
Dominion Paternall How Attained†
Chpt 2.20

attained = gained or reached something with effort
Despoticall Dominion, How Attained†
Chpt 2.20
For seeing the businesse of a Common-wealth is this, to preserve the people at home, and defend them against forraign Invasion, we shall find, it requires great knowledge of the disposition of Man-kind, of the Rights of Government, and of the nature of Equity, Law, Justice, and Honour, not to be attained without study; And of the Strength, Commodities, Places, both of their own Country, and their Neighbours; as also of the inclinations, and designes of all Nations that may any way annoy them.†
Chpt 2.25
And this is not attained to, without much experience.†
Chpt 2.25
Ignorance of the Law of Nature Excuseth no man; because every man that hath attained to the use of Reason, is supposed to know, he ought not to do to another, what he would not have done to himselfe.†
Chpt 2.27
Seventhly, If the harm inflicted be lesse than the benefit, or contentment that naturally followeth the crime committed, that harm is not within the definition; and is rather the Price, or Redemption, than the Punishment of a Crime: Because it is of the nature of Punishment, to have for end, the disposing of men to obey the Law; which end (if it be lesse that the benefit of the transgression) it attaineth not, but worketh a contrary effect.†
Chpt 2.28

attaineth = gains or reaches something with effort

standard suffix: Today, the suffix "-eth" is replaced by "-s", so that where they said "She attaineth" in older English, today we say "She attains."
It hath been also commonly taught, "That Faith and Sanctity, are not to be attained by Study and Reason, but by supernaturall Inspiration, or Infusion," which granted, I see not why any man should render a reason of his Faith; or why every Christian should not be also a Prophet; or why any man should take the Law of his Country, rather than his own Inspiration, for the rule of his action.†
Chpt 2.29

attained = gained or reached something with effort
And though it be said of many, and of our Saviour himself, that he was full of the Holy Spirit; yet that Fulnesse is not to be understood for Infusion of the substance of God, but for accumulation of his gifts, such as are the gift of sanctity of life, of tongues, and the like, whether attained supernaturally, or by study and industry; for in all cases they are the gifts of God.†
Chpt 3.34
This expectation of theirs, made them obnoxious to the Imposture of all such, as had both the ambition to attempt the attaining of the Kingdome, and the art to deceive the People by counterfeit miracles, by hypocriticall life, or by orations and doctrine plausible.†
Chpt 3.42

attaining = gaining or reaching something with effort
The stile of a Law is, We Command: But, We Think Good, is the ordinary stile of them, that but give Advice; and they lay a Burthen that give Advice, though it bee conditionall, that is, if they to whom they give it, will attain their ends: And such is the Burthen, of abstaining from things strangled, and from bloud; not absolute, but in case they will not erre.†
Chpt 3.42

attain = gain or reach something with effort
As men that are utterly deprived from their Nativity, of the light of the bodily Eye, have no Idea at all, of any such light; and no man conceives in his imagination any greater light, than he hath at some time, or other perceived by his outward Senses: so also is it of the light of the Gospel, and of the light of the Understanding, that no man can conceive there is any greater degree of it, than that which he hath already attained unto.†
Chpt 4.44

attained = gained or reached something with effort
By which Definition it is evident, that we are not to account as any part thereof, that originall knowledge called Experience, in which consisteth Prudence: Because it is not attained by Reasoning, but found as well in Brute Beasts, as in Man; and is but a Memory of successions of events in times past, wherein the omission of every little circumstance altering the effect, frustrateth the expectation of the most Prudent: whereas nothing is produced by Reasoning aright, but generall, eternall, and immutable Truth.†
Chpt 4.46
The naturall Philosophy of those Schools, was rather a Dream than Science, and set forth in senselesse and insignificant Language; which cannot be avoided by those that will teach Philosophy, without having first attained great knowledge in Geometry: For Nature worketh by Motion; the Wayes, and Degrees whereof cannot be known, without the knowledge of the Proportions and Properties of Lines, and Figures.†
Chpt 4.46
And if any man by the ingenuity of his owne nature, had attained to any degree of perfection therein, hee was commonly thought a Magician, and his Art Diabolicall.†
Chpt 4.46

Click For
Best Example Sentences
From Other Sources

Definitions:

(1) (attain)
to gain or reach something with effort
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)

attain in Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes (Auto-generated)

attain
in
Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes
(Auto-generated)