obtainv.
/əbˈteɪn/, U.S. /əbˈteɪn/, /ɑbˈteɪn/ 1.
a. transitive. To come into the possession of; to procure; to get, acquire, or secure. Formerly (also): spec. †to gain (territory, a kingdom, etc.) by conquest, to conquer (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)]
wieldeOE
haveeOE
ofgoOE
oweOE
addlec1175
winc1175
avela1200
to come by ——a1225
covera1250
oughtc1275
reachc1275
hentc1300
purchasec1300
to come to ——c1330
getc1330
pickc1330
chevise1340
fang1340
umbracec1350
chacche1362
perceivea1382
accroacha1393
achievea1393
to come at ——a1393
areach1393
recovera1398
encroach?a1400
chevec1400
enquilec1400
obtainc1422
recurec1425
to take upc1425
acquirea1450
encheve1470
sortise1474
conques?a1500
tain1501
report1508
conquest1513
possess1526
compare1532
cough1550
coff1559
fall1568
reap1581
acquist1592
accrue1594
appurchasec1600
recoil1632
to get at ——1666
to come into ——1672
rise1754
net1765
to fall in for1788
to scare up1846
access1953
c1422 T. Hoccleve Tale of Jerelaus (Durh.) l. 552 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 159 If thow purueye ffor me þat y hir loue may obteene.
c1440 Prose Life Alexander (Thornton) (1913) 21 (MED) Þou..wenynge..to conquere & optene þe landez of Perse brade & lange.
1479 in C. Innes Registrum Episcopatus Glasguensis (1843) II. 462 Schir Alexander Heriot..had lachfully..obtenyt the forsaid tenement.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos x. 40 [Eneas] opteyned her grace for to soiourne.
a1525 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1923) I. 323 In this age Romanis optenit Grece Syria [etc.].
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. v. f. v Blessed are the mercifull: for they shall obteyne mercy [L. misericordiam consequentur].
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. xcvi Graunt that those thynges which we aske faithfully, we maye obtayne effectually.
1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour 1988 in Wks. (1931) I. 258 The Grekis, thridlye, with swerd and fyre Perfors optenit the thrid impyre.
1607 in C. C. Harvey Cal. Writs Yester House (1930) 285 To obtene and get new intrant honest man.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvii. 154 Obtaining Pardon by Mony, or other rewards.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis v, in tr. Virgil Wks. 339 The first of these obtains [L. habeto] a stately Steed Adorn'd with Trappings.
1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters iii. 278 Gilded shillings..had obtained the name of Bath guineas.
1788 T. Jefferson Public Papers viii. 384 We must consider the quantity of whale oil which France..obtains from her own fishery.
1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. I. 223 The precipitate obtained is sulphite of barytes.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xx. 138 I climbed..to obtain a general view of the surrounding scene.
1890 C. A. Mercier Sanity & Insanity x. 261 The process of obtaining a livelihood.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 662/2 A widow readmitted to British nationality or who obtains a certificate of naturalization [etc.].
1938 W. Lippmann Good Society v. 78 There will..be social advantages which men will strive to obtain and fight to hold.
1960 C. Day Lewis Buried Day i. 21 Long before I ever heard of the ‘return to the womb’ theory, I could recognise the distinctive pleasure I obtained from being driven in a car.
1993 Brit. Jrnl. Surg. 80 127/1 A volume of 2–3 litres warm saline is used for the lavage, obtaining a high flow rate by hanging the perfusate in a compression bag.
b. intransitive. To gain, acquire, or get something. Cf. sense 4b. rare.
ΚΠ
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Cor. ix. 24 So runne that ye maye obtayne [L. comprehendatis].
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love i. ii. sig. B3v Eccho... Vouchsafe me I may do him these last Rites... Mer. Thou dost obtaine . View more context for this quotation
1854 J. G. Whittier Hermit of Thebaid iii The simple heart, that freely asks In love, obtains.
a. transitive. To accomplish (a purpose or objective); spec. to secure (a desired state of affairs). Usually with clause as object. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > carrying out > execute, perform, or carry out [verb (transitive)] > achieve or effect
helpc1410
obtain?a1425
procurec1425
practise?a1439
upholdc1450
furnish1477
to bring about1480
to bring to passc1513
conduce1518
contrive1530
to make good1535
moyen1560
effect1581
effectuatea1586
to level out1606
operate1637
to carry offa1640
efficiate1639
work1761
engineer1831
?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena Orcherd of Syon (Harl.) (1966) 287 (MED) Þei for loue þat þei han to certeyne creaturis, if þei mowe not opteyne as þei wolden haue, þei wolen haue hem wiþ charmes and incantacioun of feendis.
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 29 (MED) He myght not opteyne of almighti God þat at he askid.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 184 Þe abbot opteyned þat þere schuld no priour longing to Seynt Alboun..be compelled for to gadere þe dymes to þe king.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1874) V. 397 Opteynynge [L. obtinuit] unnethe of God that þe sawles of the monastery scholde be salvede.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 1353 (MED) Then went he to Nature & askyd hyr auyse, Hys entent to opteygne what was best to do.
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1848) II. 285 How oft have the papistis..bein required to come to conference. and yitt could it never be obteaned.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 493 Hee obtained that it might be every where Toll-free.
a1648 Ld. Herbert Life Henry VIII (1649) 290 They obtein'd that Francesco Sforza should be admitted to the Emperours presence.
1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Jewish War i. xvi, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. 721 Macheras..earnestly begged and obtained that he would be reconciled.
1760 C. Lennox Lady's Museum No. 9. 684 My dear Adelaida will obtain of God that my penitence and prayers may be affectual for my salvation.
1844 A. W. Kinglake Eothen vii. 101 I obtained that all of them..should sit at the table.
b. transitive. To prevail upon or persuade a person to do something. With of or from. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade or prevail upon > to do something
procurea1325
draw1425
inducec1450
draw1531
obtain1558
reduce?a1560
weighc1571
charma1592
obtain1606
bias1660
gain1681
import1825
wangle1926
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos Declar. sig. a.iii At Cumas that tyme vnder a gorgeous temple, Sibly the Prophetisse enhabited deepe in the grounde, of whom at length he obteined, to be conducted to Limbo.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 474 Boniface the third obtained of Phocas..to be called vniuersall Bishop.
1681 J. Dryden Absalom & Achitophel To Rdr. p. ii I cou'd not obtain from my self, to shew Absalom Unfortunate.
1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels II. 587 The Pharisees..obtained of Pilate to have..the Sepulchre watched by a strong Guard of Soldiers.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxii. 227 The Gentlemen..obtain'd of Miss to play several Tunes on the Spinnet.
1751 tr. Female Foundling I. 172 It was with Difficulty..I had obtained from myself to have this Conversation.
a. transitive. To bring or get into a specified condition; to cause a specified action to be performed upon: = get v. 29a(a). With past participle as complement. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > make subject to an action or influence
obtain1425
subjecta1450
to put forth1482
to set out1579
expose1594
to lay (also leave) open1595
render1642
to get (also put, have, etc.) on the run1909
1425 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 4 Ser John Paston..hath optyned me condempnyd to hym in ccc marcz.
1562 in D. H. Fleming Reg. Christian Congregation St. Andrews (1889) I. 172 The ministerie decernis hyr..to underly disciplin and obteyn hyr barne baptised.
1652 in L. B. Taylor Aberdeen Council Lett. (1952) III. 197 Yow ar to doe your best to obtein us liberat of the samen [cess].
b. transitive. To induce, persuade, or prevail upon (a person) to do something; = get v. 28a(a). Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade or prevail upon > to do something
procurea1325
draw1425
inducec1450
draw1531
obtain1558
reduce?a1560
weighc1571
charma1592
obtain1606
bias1660
gain1681
import1825
wangle1926
1606 No-body & Some-body sig. C4v He..will not be obtaind To take vpon him this Realmes gouernment.
4. † b. intransitive. To be victorious; to prevail; to succeed or prosper. Obsolete.† c. transitive. To win or achieve success or victory in (a battle, contest, or cause). Obsolete.
a. transitive. To secure (a victory, prize, etc.), to win.
ΚΠ
c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 6 (MED) Drede of God and the Apostle optenyd the victorye.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1871) III. 375 (MED) Quintus Fabius..ȝafe batelle to theyme and obteynede the victory.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 2085 The vyctory shall ye obteyne.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 301 (margin) Malcolme in battell first vancuist, secundly obteynes the victorie.
1644 (title) Good news for England; or a relation of more victories obtained by the Sweads against the king of Denmarke.
1700 J. Dryden tr. G. Boccaccio Theodore & Honoria in Fables 258 He..At Tilts and Turnaments obtain'd the Prize, But found no favour in his Ladies Eyes.
1777 J. Brand Observ. Pop. Antiq. 374 This so encouraged the Grecians, that they fought strenuously, and obtained the Victory over the Persians.
a1809 T. Holcroft Memoirs (1816) I. i. xvii. 165 As the prize to be obtained was great, the whole stable was on the alert.
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xxxvii. 270 He came here with different intentions, and finding that he cannot succeed, will secure his intended prize or victim by marriage rather than not obtain her at all.
a1898 H. Bessemer Autobiogr. (1905) xix. 299 I can fight the question now with £100, and obtain a victory in two or three days.
1959 Dict. National Biogr. 1941–50 at Curtin, John At the general election in August 1943, however, he obtained a great victory.
1991 Baseball Digest Dec. 22/2 Whiten, 25, a switch-hitter, was the prize obtained by the Indians in the mid-season multi-player trade.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > win
win1297
obtain1441
to go away with it1489
triumph1508
to carry (also get, lose, win, etc.) the day1557
to bear it1602
carry1602
to carry away the bucklers1608
to carry one's point1654
to carry it off1828
to ring the bell1900
1441 in J. Raine Corr., Inventories, Acct. Rolls, & Law Proc. Priory of Coldingham (1841) 116 (MED) Yhe desires to have preferred before al men to the priore of Coldyngham dan Johan Barlay; for if ony othere suld come therto bod the said Barlay yhe thynke he suld nott opteyn.
c1455 Regiam Majestatem f. 48 Gif the woman be batal aganis the ayr has optenit than [etc.].
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 1311 When olde Attropos had seen..How Vertew had opteynyd.
1526 R. Whitford tr. Martiloge (1893) 74 For whose eleccyon was a sysme, but he obteyned, and well ruled.
1642 J. Milton Apol. Smectymnuus 12 Too credulous is the Confuter, if he thinke to obtaine with me.
1701 J. Swift Disc. Contests Nobles & Commons iii. 31 This, tho' it failed at present, yet afterward obtained.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess vii. 145 Less prosperously the second suit obtain'd.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > victory > make victorious [verb (transitive)] > win (a victory or battle)
overcomec1275
getc1330
win1338
vanquisha1400
conquerc1475
conquest1485
obtain1530
import1598
gain1725
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] > win (any contest or prize)
win1338
vanquisha1400
to bear away?1506
obtain1530
conquer1676
gain1725
ice1908
to take out1977
1530 tr. Caesar Commentaryes i. 2 All the battels which he obteynyd in France.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey i. 4 That memorable Sea-battell there obtained against the Turk.
a1649 J. Winthrop Hist. New Eng. (1853) II. 142 I might have obtained the cause I had in hand.
1724 B. G. in J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. vi. vi. 270 If Naso obtains his Suit, the Honour is his; if he miscarries, the Repulse is mine.
5. † b. transitive. To come, manage, or contrive to do something; to succeed in doing something. With infinitive as object. Obsolete.† c. transitive. To attain, reach. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To attain. With to or †unto. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 19 Aske forgeuenesse..of god, and in thy self so doyng, thou mayest opteyne vnto hys grace.
1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. aiiij Salomon..obteyned by his nauigations to Ophir.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. D4 The Poets haue obtained to the..top of their profession.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 26 If a Man cannot obtaine to that Iudgment.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 438/1 He obtained to the highest dignity in the university, becoming chancellor of Notre-Dame de Paris.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > achieve success (of persons) > succeed in doing anything
wina1300
covera1375
gaina1375
to prevail to1474
to make shift of1504
attain1523
obtaina1529
frame1545
procure1559
to finish to1594
succeed1839
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Fi I trust we shall optayne To do you seruyce.
1565 in J. Bell Queen Elizabeth & Swedish Princess (1926) 45 When she hadd obtained to be a good englishe scholer, she thought the time not to be differred.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. x. sig. G1v Clitophon by vehement importunitie obteyned to go with him.
a1688 R. Cudworth Treat. Eternal & Immutable Morality (1731) iii. iv. 117 The weaker Murmurs..cannot obtain to be heard.
a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 7 It was not without much importunity that we obtain'd to have the use of a dry part of the house.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > arrival > arrive at or reach [verb (transitive)]
to come toOE
reachOE
hita1075
ofreachlOE
catchc1330
latchc1330
recovera1375
getc1390
henta1393
win?1473
fetch1589
to fetch up1589
obtain1589
attainc1592
make1610
gaina1616
arrive1647
advene1684
strike1798
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > reaching a point or place > reach (a point or place) [verb (transitive)]
areach1014
reachOE
ofreachlOE
overtakec1225
catchc1330
acomec1350
touchc1384
getc1390
to come at ——a1393
henta1393
overreacha1400
win?1473
aspire1581
obtain1589
attainc1592
make1610
gaina1616
acquire1665
advene1684
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [verb (transitive)] > reach (a certain point)
reach1576
obtain1589
touch1623
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > make a success of [verb (transitive)] > succeed in or achieve a purpose
reacheOE
awinc1000
attain1393
speedc1400
comprehenda1450
escheve1489
to make out1535
consecute1536
compass1549
achievea1569
aspire1581
obtain1589
subdue1590
to go a long (also great, short, etc.) way1624
arrivea1657
kill1899
nail1981
1589 in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations iii. 817 His consorts, whereof one..hath not long since obtayned his port.
1733 P. Shaw tr. F. Bacon De Sapientia Veterum i, in Philos. Wks. I. 561 The End is seldom obtained.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. 316 If once the lama obtains the rocky precipice.
1830 W. Scott Lett. Demonol. (1831) 384 The vivacity of fancy..dies within us when we obtain the age of manhood.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > have or possess [verb (transitive)] > occupy
oversiteOE
occupyc1375
obtain1482
surprise1540
garrison1645
1482 Monk of Evesham 92 To haue and opteyne hem yn my lappe or holde hem in my harmys.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) lxxxxvii. sig. C*iiiiv Who shal kepe and obtaine this countre after vs syth that Arthur..is deed.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 87 He who obtains the Monarchy of Heav'n. View more context for this quotation
1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. §121 Varying the signification of each figure [in Arabic notation] according to the place it obtains.
7. † a. transitive (in passive). To be established. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. (1557) 283/1 Which thing had vndoubtedly neuer been obteined among ye people..if god had not broughte it vp hymselfe.
1565 J. Jewel tr. G. Pachymeres in Replie Hardinges Answeare xvii. 556 Him, that is the Priest, or Elder, he calleth the Sacrificer..And the same woorde, Sacrificer, is nowe obteined by Custome.
b. intransitive. To be prevalent, customary, or established; to be in force or in vogue; to hold good; to subsist or exist; to be the case.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > be generally applicable [verb (intransitive)] > be general or prevalent
pass1475
runa1500
tain?1536
to go for current1596
to pass for current1596
prevail1617
obtain1619
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > lasting quality, permanence > be permanent [verb (intransitive)] > by prevailing
to hold the field?a1518
obtain1619
1619 J. Hales Let. 1 Jan. 54 in Golden Remains (1659) Their opinions have now obtein'd for a Hundred years.
1641 Bp. J. Hall Humble Remonstr. 17 That forme of Episcopall Government, which hath hitherto obtained in the Church.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. v. xiii. 288 A practice..which obtains only among the idle part of the Nation.
1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind i. §3 Laws of nature which universally obtain.
1842 W. R. Grove Correl. Physical Forces 35 Static equilibrium, such..as that which obtains in the two arms of a balance.
1890 Ld. Esher in Law Times Rep. 83 731/2 The new mode, which now obtains, of drafting Acts of Parliament so as to legislate by incorporating other Acts of Parliament.
1920 R. Fry Vision & Design 286 A rather more intelligent attitude exists in the educated public of today than obtained in the last century.
1960 M. Spark Bachelors xii. 237 No prejudice should obtain in the case of Mr Ronald Bridges.
2000 Econ. & Philos. 16 4 Perfect equality obtains when everyone has the same benefit level.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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