[ob.tain] vb [ME obteinen, fr. MF & L; MF obtenir, fr. L obtinere to hold on to, possess, obtain, fr. ob- in the way + tenere to hold--more at thin] vt (15c): to gain or attain usu. by planned action or effort ~ vi 1 archaic: succeed
2: to be generally recognized or established: prevail -- ob.tain.abil.i.ty n -- ob.tain.able adj -- ob.tain.er n -- ob.tain.ment n