At-tāin'a-ble, a.

a. Capable of being attained or reached by efforts of the mind or body; capable of being compassed or accomplished by efforts directed to the object; as, perfection is not attainable in this life.

☞ From an inattention to the true sense of this word, as explained under ATTAIN, authors have very improperly used this word for obtainable, procurable; as in the following passages:—

The kind and quality of food and liquor, the species of habitation, furniture, and clothing, to which the common people of each country are habituated, must be attainable with ease and certainty. Paley.

General Howe would not permit the purchase of those articles [clothes and blankets] in Philadelphia, and they were not attainable in the country. Marshall.