ob|tain

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.