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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Obtained

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.

Wiktionary
obtained

vb. (en-past of: obtain)

Usage examples of "obtained".

They were manifested in a still more public manner, by the strict orders which were despatched into Egypt to recall the adherents of Athanasius, to restore their privileges, to proclaim their innocence, and to erase from the public registers the illegal proceedings which had been obtained during the prevalence of the Eusebian faction.

Among the Christians who had publicly confessed their religious principles, those who (as it very frequently happened) had been dismissed from the tribunal or the prisons of the Pagan magistrates, obtained such honors as were justly due to their imperfect martyrdom and their generous resolution.

Note: The good princes were not those who alone obtained the honors of an apotheosis: it was conferred on many tyrants.

Pertinax observed, that the name of Geticus (he had obtained some advantage over the Goths, or Getae) would be a proper addition to Parthieus, Alemannicus, &c.

Constantia, his wife, and the sister of Constantine, interceded with her brother in favor of her husband, and obtained from his policy, rather than from his compassion, a solemn promise, confirmed by an oath, that after the sacrifice of Martinianus, and the resignation of the purple, Licinius himself should be permitted to pass the remainder of this life in peace and affluence.

It has obtained undisputed possession, as rightful occupant, of the vast period which it comprehends.

Even these chosen freedmen obtained no more than the private rights of citizens, and were rigorously excluded from civil or military honors.

Although Pius had two sons, ^42 he preferred the welfare of Rome to the interest of his family, gave his daughter Faustina, in marriage to young Marcus, obtained from the senate the tribunitian and proconsular powers, and, with a noble disdain, or rather ignorance of jealousy, associated him to all the labors of government.

He asked and obtained leave to pass the rest of his life in his native city, (Nice, in Bithynia: ) it was there that he finished his history, which closes with his second consulship.

Balbus obtained the freedom of Rome by the favor of Pompey, and preserved it by the eloquence of Cicero.

Tiridates derived from his exile such advantages as he could never have obtained on the throne of Armenia.

His reputation obtained him the esteem of Constantine, who invited him to his court, and intrusted to him the education of his son Crispus.

Human reason, which by its unassisted strength is incapable of perceiving the mysteries of faith, had already obtained an easy triumph over the folly of Paganism.

Daniel, that the Franks never obtained any permanent settlement on this side of the Rhine before the time of Clovis, is refuted with much learning and good sense by M.

Strategius, who from this commission obtained the surname of Musonianus, was a Christian of the Arian sect.