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obtain

 - 3 dictionary results

ob⋅tain

  [uhb-teyn]
Use obtain in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to come into possession of; get, acquire, or procure, as through an effort or by a request: to obtain permission; to obtain a better income.
2. Obsolete. to attain or reach.
–verb (used without object)
3. to be prevalent, customary, or in vogue; prevail: the morals that obtained in Rome.
4. Archaic. to succeed.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME obteinen < MF obtenir < L obtinēre to take hold of, equiv. to ob- ob- + -tinēre (comb. form of tenēre to hold)

Related forms:
ob⋅tain⋅a⋅ble, adjective
ob⋅tain⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
ob⋅tain⋅er, noun
ob⋅tain⋅ment, noun

Synonyms:
1. gain, achieve, earn, win, attain. See get.

Antonyms:
1. lose, forgo.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To obtain
ob·tain   (əb-tān', ŏb-)   
v.   ob·tained, ob·tain·ing, ob·tains

v.   tr.
To succeed in gaining possession of as the result of planning or endeavor; acquire.
v.   intr.

  1. To be established, accepted, or customary: "standards, proprieties that no longer obtain" (Meg Greenfield).

  2. Archaic To succeed.


[Middle English obteinen, from Old French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre : ob-, intensive pref.; see ob- + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
ob·tain'a·ble adj., ob·tain'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

obtain 
c.1425, from M.Fr. obtenir (14c.), from L. obtinere "hold, take hold of, acquire," from ob "to" (though perhaps intensive in this case) + tenere "to hold" (see tenet).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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