Ob*tain", v. i. To gain or have a
firm footing; to become recognized or established; to become or be
prevalent or general; as, the custom obtains of going to the
seashore in summer.
Ob*tain" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Obtained (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Obtaining.] [F. obtenir, L. obtinere; ob
(see Ob-) + tenere to hold. See Tenable.]
1. To hold; to keep; to possess.
[Obs.]
His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire
He who obtains the monarchy of heaven.
Milton.
2. To get hold of by effort; to gain
possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way.
Some pray for riches; riches they
obtain.
Dryden.
By guileful fair words peace may be
obtained.
Shak.
It may be that I may obtain children by
her.
Gen. xvi. 2.
Syn. -- To attain; gain; procure; acquire; win; earn. See
Attain. -- To Obtain, Get, Gain,
Earn, Acquire. The idea of getting is common to
all these terms. We may, indeed, with only a slight change of sense,
substitute get for either of them; as, to get or to
gain a prize; to get or to obtain an employment;
to get or to earn a living; to get or to
acquire a language. To gain is to get by striving; and
as this is often a part of our good fortune, the word gain is
peculiarly applicable to whatever comes to us fortuitously. Thus, we
gain a victory, we gain a cause, we gain an
advantage, etc. To earn is to deserve by labor or service; as,
to earn good wages; to earn a triumph. Unfortunately,
one does not always get or obtain what he has
earned. To obtain implies desire for possession, and
some effort directed to the attainment of that which is not
immediately within our reach. Whatever we thus seek and
get, we obtain, whether by our own exertions or those
of others; whether by good or bad means; whether permanently, or only
for a time. Thus, a man obtains an employment; he
obtains an answer to a letter, etc. To acquire is more
limited and specific. We acquire what comes to us gradually in
the regular exercise of our abilities, while we obtain what
comes in any way, provided we desire it. Thus, we acquire
knowledge, property, honor, reputation, etc. What we acquire
becomes, to a great extent, permanently our own; as, to
acquire a language; to acquire habits of industry,
etc.
Ob*tain", v. i. 1.
To become held; to gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized
or established; to subsist; to become prevalent or general; to
prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in
summer.
Sobriety hath by use obtained to signify
temperance in drinking.
Jer. Taylor.
The Theodosian code, several hundred years after
Justinian's time, did obtain in the western parts of
Europe.
Baker.
2. To prevail; to succeed. [R.]
Evelyn.
So run that ye may obtain.
1
Cor. ix. 24.
There is due from the judge to the advocate, some
commendation, where causes are fair pleaded; especially towards the
side which obtaineth not.
Bacon.
Ob*tain", v. i. To gain or have a
firm footing; to become recognized or established; to become or be
prevalent or general; as, the custom obtains of going to the
seashore in summer.
