obtendo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɔpˈtɛn.doː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [obˈtɛn.do]^[1]

Forms

obtendō (present infinitive obtendere, perfect active obtendī, supine obtentum); third conjugation^[1] Also spelled optendō.^[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin ob- (“before, against”) + tendō (“to stretch”); compare ostendō.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨tendō⟩ to Proto-Italic *tend-, from Proto-Indo-European *ten-d(ʰ)- (“to stretch”), the root that also gave ⟨teneō⟩.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Among the OLD's earliest citations are Cicero and Virgil.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC and Virgil 70–19 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to stretch or spread out over or in front, as a protection or a screen, as in Virgil; to cover, overspread, as in Celsus; figuratively to draw over as a veil, conceal, as in Tacitus; and to put forward as a pretext, allege, plead, also in Tacitus.^[2] Lewis & Short note it is not frequent until after the Augustan period.^[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to hide, cover, stretch before, spread before.^[6]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][4]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of spreading before.^[2][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of pretexts.^[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To stretch or spread out over or in front (as a screen).^[2]
2. To cover, overspread.^[2]
3. To draw over as a veil, conceal.^[2]
4. To put forward as a pretext, allege.^[2]

Word family

• obtensus
• obtentiō
• obtentus

Related words

• tendō
• ostendō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson