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| ob·tain [ əb táyn, ob táyn ] (past and past participle ob·tained, present participle ob·tain·ing, 3rd person present singular ob·tains) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb get something: to get possession of something, especially by making an effort or having the necessary qualifications
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2. intransitive verb be established: to be established, valid, or current
  under the regulations that obtained at the time
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3. intransitive verb result: to follow as a result
(
formal
)
the unfortunate situation that obtains when such diverse characters are forced together
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| [15th century. Via Old French obtenir< Latin obtinere "hold to" < tenere "to hold"] |
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| ob·tain·er noun |
| ob·tain·ment noun |
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