obtain
Meaning
to get something, especially by asking for it, working for it, or making an effort
(of rules, systems, or customs) to exist or be in use
Structure
Usage
she obtained her degree from a prestigious university.
you will need to obtain permission from the head of department.
this practice still obtains in many traditional communities.
Etymology
The word 'obtain' originates from the latin verb obtinēre, a compound of the prefix ob- (meaning "towards" or "against") and the verb tenēre (meaning "to hold"). The literal sense was "to take hold of by effort," or "to hold against opposition," which described gaining or securing something. This core idea of actively acquiring and maintaining possession passed through old french (obtenir) into middle english, where it evolved to its current abstract meanings of acquiring something through effort or, for rules, being established and held in force.
Analysis
- ob: a latin prefix meaning "towards," "against," or "in the way of." - tain: from the latin root tenēre, meaning "to hold," "to have," or "to keep."