Achievement

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈt͡ʃiːv.mənt/

Definitions

1. Something successfully accomplished through effort, skill, or courage
2. An accomplished task or goal signifies the successful realization of one’s potential or objectives through dedication and competence
3. A notable success achieved by an individual illustrates the results of hard work, perseverance, and skill in reaching a predefined target

Etymology: The verb "achieve" came into English from Old French "achever," meaning "to finish," which was built from "a chef," literally "to the head" or "to the end," from Latin "ad" and "caput." So at its root, achieving something meant bringing a task to its head, its completion. The noun followed the same path: Middle French "achevement" passed into English as a noun meaning the act of finishing or completing, and the sense of a difficult accomplishment came later as people began to treat the finished result as the thing worth celebrating. One curious wrinkle is heraldry. The heraldic use of "achievement" for a coat of arms displayed together with its supporters and crest may have been shaped by "hatchment," a related word for a funeral board bearing a family's arms, though the exact influence is uncertain.

Synonyms: accomplishment, attainment

Antonyms: failure, defeat