Touch me, hold me

October 31st, 2008 at 07:00am Barry Wood

I wasn’t able to post anything yesterday because all my other work got in the way. I hate it when that happens, but now I’m back at it.

Today I’ll try to explain the difference between “attain” and “obtain.” Both are about reaching goals, but the latter involves gaining possession of tangible things.

To “attain” is “to gain through effort; accomplish; achieve,” and to “obtain” is “to get possession of, especially by some effort; procure.”

If your dream is to become a millionaire, you “attain” that goal by “obtaining ” the money. You “attain” a certain level of formal education; you “obtain” a diploma to prove it.

The root of “obtain” is the Latin verb “tenere,” for “to hold.” This is the source for most of the “-tain” words: “abstain,” “contain,” “detain,” “maintain,” “pertain,” “retain,” “sustain,” even “entertain.” In fact, every one I could think of — except “attain.”

The Latin source for that one is the verb “tangere,” “to touch.”

“Attain” also can mean “to reach or come to; arrive at,” as in “This year I attained the age of 60.”

“Obtain” also can mean “to be in force or in effect; prevail,” as in “Those rules no longer obtain.”

I hope we’ve attained enlightenment on this one.

Entry Filed under: perplexing pairs