Third person singular present of obtain; gets, acquires, or secures something through effort or request; also means 'prevails' or 'exists widely.'
From Latin 'obtinere,' from 'ob-' (toward) + 'tenere' (to hold). Entered English via Old French around 1400s. Originally meant 'to hold onto' or 'maintain,' later evolved to mean 'acquire' and 'prevail.'
This verb beautifully captures two distinct actions with one word - both getting something you want and describing conditions that exist or prevail. The Latin root literally means 'to hold toward,' suggesting that obtaining isn't just grabbing but maintaining a purposeful grip on what you've gained.
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