Achievance
(A*chiev"ance) n. [Cf. OF. achevance.] Achievement. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
Achieve
(A*chieve") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Achieved ; p. pr. & vb. n. Achieving ] [OE. acheven, OF.
achever, achiever, F. achever, to finish; à (L. ad) + OF. chief, F. chef, end, head, fr. L. caput head.
See Chief.]
1. To carry on to a final close; to bring out into a perfected state; to accomplish; to perform; — as, to achieve
a feat, an exploit, an enterprise.
Supposing faculties and powers to be the same, far more may be achieved in any line by the aid of a
capital, invigorating motive than without it.
I. Taylor.
2. To obtain, or gain, as the result of exertion; to succeed in gaining; to win.
Some are born great, some achieve greatness.
Shak.
Thou hast achieved our liberty.
Milton.
[[Obs]., with a material thing as the aim.]
Show all the spoils by valiant kings achieved.
Prior.
He hath achieved a maid
That paragons description.
Shak.
3. To finish; to kill. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn. — To accomplish; effect; fulfill; complete; execute; perform; realize; obtain. See Accomplish.
Achievement
(A*chieve"ment) n. [Cf. F. achèvement, E. Hatchment.]
1. The act of achieving or performing; an obtaining by exertion; successful performance; accomplishment; as,
the achievement of his object.
2. A great or heroic deed; something accomplished by valor, boldness, or praiseworthy exertion; a feat.
[The exploits] of the ancient saints . . . do far surpass the most famous achievements of pagan heroes.
Barrow.
The highest achievements of the human intellect.
Macaulay.
3. (Her.) An escutcheon or ensign armorial; now generally applied to the funeral shield commonly called
hatchment. Cussans.
Achiever
(A*chiev"er) n. One who achieves; a winner.
Achillean
(Ach`il*le"an) a. Resembling Achilles, the hero of the Iliad; invincible.
Achilles' tendon
(A*chil"les' ten"don) n. [L. Achillis tendo.] (Anat.) The strong tendon formed of the
united tendons of the large muscles in the calf of the leg, an inserted into the bone of the heel; — so
called from the mythological account of Achilles being held by the heel when dipped in the River Styx.
Achilous
(A*chi"lous) a. [Gr. 'a priv. + lip.] (Bot.) Without a lip.
Aching
(Ach"ing) a. That aches; continuously painful. See Ache. — Ach"ing*ly, adv.
The aching heart, the aching head.
Longfellow.
