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Added 9 October 2026

obtain

/əbˈteɪn/ verb

In Latin: potior, nanciscor, assequor Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about obtain at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
obtain permission
To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.
To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.

Origin

From Middle English obteinen, from Anglo-Norman obtenir, optiner et al., and Middle French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre (“to gain, achieve, succeed, possess”), from ob- + tenēre (“to hold”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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