ob|tain´a|ble

ob|tain´a|ble
ob|tain «uhb TAYN», transitive verb.
1. to get or procure through effort or diligence; come to have; acquire: »

to obtain a job one applies for, to obtain a prize one has been working for, to obtain possession of a house one has rented, to obtain knowledge through study.

SYNONYM(S): secure, gain. See syn. under get. (Cf.get)
2. Archaic. to attain; reach.
3. Obsolete. to hold; possess: »

His mother then is mortal, but his Sire He who obtains the monarchy of Heaven (Milton).

–v.i.
1. to be in use; be customary; prevail: »

Different rules obtain in different schools.

2. to get what is desired: »

The simple heart, that freely asks in love, obtains (John Greenleaf Whittier).

3. Archaic. to prevail; succeed: »

This, though it failed at present, yet afterwards obtained (Jonathan Swift).

4. Obsolete. to attain (to): »

if a man cannot obtain to that judgment (Francis Bacon).

[< Middle English obteynen < Middle French obtenir < Latin obtinēre < ob- to + tenēre to hold]
ob|tain´a|ble, adjective.
|tain´er, noun.
ob|tain´ment, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • main|tain´a|ble — main|tain «mayn TAYN», transitive verb. 1. to keep; keep up; carry on: »to maintain a business, to maintain one s health. One must maintain a footing in a tug of war. Policemen assist in maintaining order. Maintain your hold. SYNONYM(S): continue …   Useful english dictionary

  • con|tain´a|ble — con|tain «kuhn TAYN», transitive verb. 1. to have within itself; hold as contents; include: »My purse contains money. A library contains books. Books contain information. 2. to be capable of holding: »This pitcher will contain a quart of milk. 3 …   Useful english dictionary

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  • sus|tain|a|ble — «suh STAY nuh buhl», adjective. 1. that can be sustained. 2. following principles of conservation and ecological balance: »Sustainable farming practices may use natural predators in place of pesticides; Some environmentalists say the whole notion …   Useful english dictionary

  • as´cer|tain´a|ble|ness — as|cer|tain|a|ble «AS uhr TAY nuh buhl», adjective. that can be ascertained. –as´cer|tain´a|ble|ness, noun. –as´cer|tain´a|bly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • as|cer|tain|a|ble — «AS uhr TAY nuh buhl», adjective. that can be ascertained. –as´cer|tain´a|ble|ness, noun. –as´cer|tain´a|bly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • un´at|tain´a|ble|ness — un|at|tain|a|ble «UHN uh TAY nuh buhl», adjective. not attainable; beyond the possibility of attainment; never to be attained or reached. –un´at|tain´a|ble|ness, noun. –un´at|tain´a|bly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|at|tain|a|ble — «UHN uh TAY nuh buhl», adjective. not attainable; beyond the possibility of attainment; never to be attained or reached. –un´at|tain´a|ble|ness, noun. –un´at|tain´a|bly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • at|tain´a|ble|ness — at|tain|a|ble «uh TAY nuh buhl», adjective. that can be reached or achieved: »The office of President is the highest attainable in the United States. –at|tain´a|ble|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

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