ottenere Italian · revision 37884

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1304–1308, Dante|origins=la teneō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ot.teˈne.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ottenere''' (first-person singular present ottèngo, first-person singular past historic otténni or ottènni, past participle ottenùto, first-person singular future otterrò, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|obtenere]], [[roa-oit|optenere]] and [[roa-oit|otenere]].^(GDLI|12, 279)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|obtineō|t=to hold firmly; occupy; obtain]], from [[m|la|ob-|t=before, against]] and [[m|la|teneō|t=to hold]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) The stem vowel was remade on the model of [[tenere]].^(Nocentini 2010) Wiktionary calls the word probably semi-learned.^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb also gave [[fr|obtenir]] (14th century) and [[es|obtener]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|2705)

+

+ The Latin [[m|la|teneō]] is a stative present to [[ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]], related to [[grc|τείνω|tr=teínō|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI notes that in Dante (1304–1308) the verb means “to hold, keep, possess” rather than “obtain”.^(DELI 1999) The ''Convivio'' says “Quanto la nostra volontade ottenere puote, tanto le nostre operazioni si stendono” (as far as our will can hold, so far our actions extend).^(GDLI|12, 279) The sense “to succeed in getting what one wants or is entitled to” comes in Boccaccio (1348–1353).^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Boccaccio tells of a man who, with many prayers mixed with great promises, “niuna cosa ottenne” (obtained nothing).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861|3, 695) Guicciardini (before 1540) uses it for taking a town, and Pier Vettori (1574) for producing something by a particular process.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) In Ariosto it is intransitive, “to prevail”, of an opinion or proposal, a sense now archaic.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The derivatives are ''ottenimento'' (16th century, Pietro Bembo) and ''ottenibile'' (before 1712, Lorenzo Magalotti), preceded by ''ottenevole'' in Oudin's dictionary (1640).^(DEI|2705)^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses ''ottenere'' in the sense “to hold”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses it in the sense “to obtain”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1540 – Francesco Guicciardini uses it for capturing a town.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+ * 16th century – Pietro Bembo uses ''ottenimento''.^(DEI|2705)

+ * 1574 – Pier Vettori uses it for obtaining something by a process.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1712 – Lorenzo Magalotti uses ''ottenibile''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|obtain]], get, achieve something wanted or due; with ''di'' and an infinitive or ''che'' and a subjunctive: ''Dopo due anni ha ottenuto la cittadinanza.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To achieve as a result or effect: ''Con le minacce non otterrai niente.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To produce or [[m|en|extract]] by a process or operation: ''Sommando sette e otto si ottiene quindici.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To prevail; to make a view or proposal accepted.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ottenibile]]

+ * [[ottenimento]]

+ * [[riottenere]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tenere]]

+ * [[la|teneō]]

+ * [[fr|obtenir]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ It is conjugated like ''tenere'': ''ottengo'', ''ottenni'', ''otterrò''.^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}