4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Obtain  \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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Obtain  \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. 
 
  Usage:  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 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Obtain  \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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  obtain 
  v  1:  come  into  possession  of  "How  did  you  obtain  the  visa?" 
  2:  receive  a  specified  treatment  (abstract);  "These  aspects  of 
  civilization  do  not  find  expression  or  receive  an 
  interpretation";  "His  movie  received  a  good  review";  "I 
  got  nothing  but  trouble  for  my  good  intentions"  [syn:  {receive}, 
  {get},  {find},  {incur}] 
  3:  be  valid,  applicable,  or  true;  "This  theory  still  holds" 
  [syn:  {prevail},  {hold}] 

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