To achieve something is to successfully reach a goal after effort or work. It usually suggests that the result was important or challenging.
From Old French 'achever', meaning 'to bring to an end' or 'complete', from 'à chef' (to a head, to the end). Earlier, it was about finishing something, not just succeeding at it.
Achieve originally meant 'to bring something to its head'—to finish it. So achievement isn’t magic talent; it’s about carrying something all the way to the end when most people stop in the middle.
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