Etymologically
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obtineo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɔpˈtɪ.ne.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [obˈtiː.ne.o][1]

Forms

obtineō (present infinitive obtinēre, perfect active obtinuī, supine obtentum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from ob- and teneō “to hold”, and is also spelled ⟨optineō⟩.[2][1][3] A Scipio epitaph has the perfect ⟨optenuī⟩, and Plautus the infinitive ⟨obtinērier⟩.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, as obtinē aurēs “hold my ears tight”.[2][5] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant to hold against, as in Plautus, to maintain, persist in, and to hold a province, kingdom or command, govern.[2][5] From Cicero it meant to keep military control of, and in Caesar to occupy a place.[2] It meant to cover a space, as in Lucretius, to constitute, and of conditions to dominate.[2] It meant to hold a rank or role, fulfil a function, to secure rights, gain one's point, win a case, prevail.[2] In Livy it was used of reports and opinions that prevail, obtain.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to obtain, secure, lay hold of, prevail, maintain, occupy.[7] Through Old French obtenir and directly from Latin it gave English obtain in the early 15th century.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of holding and of securing.[2][6]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of covering a space.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of control and of winning one's point.[2][6]
  • early 15th century – English obtain is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To hold against; to hold tight.[2]
  2. To maintain, persist in.[2]
  3. To govern, hold an office; to occupy.[2]
  4. To cover, extend over; to dominate.[2]
  5. To hold a rank; to fulfil a function.[2]
  6. To secure, gain; to win a case.[2]
  7. To prevail, obtain.[2]

Word family

  • obtentus
  • obtinentia
  • obtentiō

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 l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com