obtain Copy link Outline I. Trans., to get possession of1. ădĭpiscor, ădeptus, 3; with p. part. in act. or pass. sense (usu. to secure by one's own exertions)2. nanciscor, nactus, 3 (to get by good luck, light upon)3. obtĭneo, ui, tentum, 2 (strictly, to hold, keep; hence, to obtain that which is kept or likely to be so)4. invĕnio, rĕpĕrio, 45. acquīro, quīsīvi, ītum, 3 (in addition to what one has)6. consĕquor, sĕcūtus, 3 (with ref. to what has been an object of pursuit)7. pŏtior, 4 (usu. with ref. to dominion, political power)8. impetro, 1 (by request; in answer to entreaty)II. Intrans., to have currency • obtain: I. Trans., to get possession of: 1. ădĭpiscor, ădeptus, 3; with p. part. in act. or pass. sense (usu. to secure by one's own exertions): to o. the highest honours from the Roman people, summos honores a Populo R. adipisci, Cic. Clu. 42, 118: to o. praise, laudem a., id. Off. 1, 19, 62: to o. a victory, victoriam a., Caes. B. G. 5, 39, extr.: Suet. 2. nanciscor, nactus, 3 (to get by good luck, light upon): v. to get (init.). 3. obtĭneo, ui, tentum, 2 (strictly, to hold, keep; hence, to obtain that which is kept or likely to be so): he was about to o. the supreme authority in his own state, ipse suae civitatis imperium obtenturus esset, Caes. B. G. 1, 3. Join: [sapientiam] obtinere adipiscique, Cic. Leg. 1, 22, fin. (N.B.--To be used with discrimination and sparingly.) 4. invĕnio, rĕpĕrio, 4: v. to get (A., I., 3 and 4). 5. acquīro, quīsīvi, ītum, 3 (in addition to what one has): v. to gain (II., 1). 6. consĕquor, sĕcūtus, 3 (with ref. to what has been an object of pursuit): to o. the highest honours, amplissimos honores c., Cic.: Pl. 5, fin.: to o. that object (dominion), eam rem c., Caes. B. G. 2, 1, extr. So also, assĕquor, 3: v. to attain to. See also to gain, II. (throughout). 7. pŏtior, 4 (usu. with ref. to dominion, political power): with abl., gen., and less freq. acc.): to o. the supremacy of all Gaul, imperio totius Galliae p., Caes. B. G. 1, 2: to o. possession of (the enemy's) baggage and camp, impedimentis castrisque p., ib. 26: to o. possession (mastery) of the city, urbis p., Sall. Cat. 47; also, urbe p. (to capture it; whereas urbis potiri denotes, l. c., political ascendency). 8. impetro, 1 (by request; in answer to entreaty): to o. a province (by eager canvassing), provinciam imp., Quint. 6, 3, 68: to o. permission from any one, ab aliquo imp., ut ..., Caes. B. G. 1. 9: having o.'d leave to remain, impetrato ut manerent, Liv. 9, 30, fin.: v. to prevail on. In same sense, exōro, 1: to o. one's request with difficulty, vix exorare, Ter. Andr. 3, 4, 13. Phr.: having o.'d one's wish or prayer, voti compos, Hor. A. P. 76: Liv.: also, voti damnatus (under obligation to pay a vow on account of the fulfilment of one's prayer) Liv. 9, 37, extr.; and voti reus, Virg. Aen. 5, 237: to try to o. empty fame, inanem rumorem aucupari, Cic. in Pis. 24, 57. II. Intrans., to have currency: tĕneo, ui, ntum, 2 (not so in Cic.): the custom has o.'d, which gains ground daily, tenuit consuetudo quae quotidie magis invalescit, Quint. 2, init.: v. to prevail.