Third person singular present tense of achieve; successfully brings about or reaches a desired objective or result. Indicates the completion of a goal through effort.
From Old French 'achever' meaning to complete or finish, ultimately from Latin 'ad' (to) + 'caput' (head), literally meaning 'to bring to a head.' The sense evolved from completion to success and accomplishment by the 14th century.
The original meaning 'to bring to a head' beautifully captures how achievement represents the culmination of effort - like a plant finally flowering. This metaphor of reaching a peak or climax remains embedded in our understanding of achievement as the moment when preparation meets success.
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