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Word Meanings - OBTAIN - Book Publishers vocabulary database

1. To hold; to keep; to possess. His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire He who obtains the monarchy of heaven. Milton. 2. To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way. Some pray for riches; riches they

Additional info about word: OBTAIN

1. To hold; to keep; to possess. His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire He who obtains the monarchy of heaven. Milton. 2. To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way. Some pray for riches; riches they obtain. Dryden. By guileful fair words peace may be obtained. Shak. It may be that I may obtain children by her. Gen. xvi. 2. Syn. -- To attain; gain; procure; acquire; win; earn. See Attain. -- To Obtain, Get, Gain, Earn, Acquire. The idea of getting is common to all these terms. We may, indeed, with only a slight change of sense, substitute get for either of them; as, to get or to gain a prize; to get or to obtain an employment; to get or to earn a living; to get or to acquire a language. To gain is to get by striving; and as this is often a part of our good fortune, the word gain is peculiarly applicable to whatever comes to us fortuitously. Thus, we gain a victory, we gain a cause, we gain an advantage, etc. To earn is to deserve by labor or service; as, to earn good wages; to earn a triumph. Unfortunately, one does not always get or obtain what he has earned. To obtain implies desire for possession, and some effort directed to the attainment of that which is not immediately within our reach. Whatever we thus seek and get, we obtain, whether by our own exertions or those of others; whether by good or bad means; whether permanently, or only for a time. Thus, a man obtains an employment; he obtains an answer to a letter, etc. To acquire is more limited and specific. We acquire what comes to us gradually in the regular exercise of our abilities, while we obtain what comes in any way, provided we desire it. Thus, we acquire knowledge, property, honor, reputation, etc. What we acquire becomes, to a great extent, permanently our own; as, to acquire a language; to acquire habits of industry, etc.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of OBTAIN)

Possible antonyms: (opposite words of OBTAIN)

Related words: (words related to OBTAIN)

  • DISMISSIVE
    Giving dismission.
  • COMPASSIONATELY
    In a compassionate manner; mercifully. Clarendon.
  • DESERVEDNESS
    Meritoriousness.
  • ATTAIN
    atteindre, fr. L. attingere; ad + tangere to touch, reach. See 1. To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain; to compass; as, to attain rest. Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means Abp. Tillotson. 3. To get
  • DISMISSAL
    Dismission; discharge. Officeholders were commanded faithfully to enforce it, upon pain of immediate dismissal. Motley.
  • MISMANAGER
    One who manages ill.
  • EXPOSER
    One who exposes or discloses.
  • MASTERSHIP
    1. The state or office of a master. 2. Mastery; dominion; superior skill; superiority. Where noble youths for mastership should strive. Driden. 3. Chief work; masterpiece. Dryden. 4. An ironical title of respect. How now, seignior Launce ! what
  • MERIT
    deserve, merit; prob. originally, to get a share; akin to Gr. Market, 1. The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert. Here may men see how sin hath his merit. Chaucer. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that
  • ACCOMPLISHED
    1. Completed; effected; established; as, an accomplished fact. 2. Complete in acquirements as the result usually of training; -- commonly in a good sense; as, an accomplished scholar, an accomplished villain. They . . . show themselves accomplished
  • BOTCH
    1. A swelling on the skin; a large ulcerous affection; a boil; an eruptive disease. Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss. Milton. 2. A patch put on, or a part of a garment patched or mended in a clumsy manner. 3. Work done in a bungling
  • DESERVE
    1. To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6. John
  • MASTEROUS
    Masterly. Milton.
  • PROFIT
    1. Acquisition beyond expenditure; excess of value received for producing, keeping, or selling, over cost; hence, pecuniary gain in any transaction or occupation; emolument; as, a profit on the sale of goods. Let no man anticipate uncertain
  • UNFOLDER
    One who, or that which, unfolds.
  • BUNGLER
    A clumsy, awkward workman; one who bungles. If to be a dunce or a bungler in any profession be shameful, how much more ignominious and infamous to a scholar to be such! Barrow.
  • GRASP
    1. To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the fingers or arms; to catch to take possession of. Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff. Shak. 2. To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly acquainted or conversant with;
  • BOTCHERY
    A botching, or that which is done by botching; clumsy or careless workmanship.
  • BENEFIT SOCIETY
    A society or association formed for mutual insurance, as among tradesmen or in labor unions, to provide for relief in sickness, old age, and for the expenses of burial. Usually called friendly society in Great Britain.
  • EXTENDLESSNESS
    Unlimited extension. An . . . extendlessness of excursions. Sir. M. Hale.
  • OUTPREACH
    To surpass in preaching. And for a villain's quick conversion A pillory can outpreach a parson. Trumbull.
  • CREMASTERIC
    Of or pertaining to the cremaster; as, the cremasteric artery.
  • BAGGAGE MASTER
    One who has charge of the baggage at a railway station or upon a line of public travel.
  • FOREREACH
    To advance or gain upon; -- said of a vessel that gains upon another when sailing closehauled.
  • TEMERITY
    Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness; as, the temerity of a commander in war. Syn. -- Rashness; precipitancy; heedlessness; venturesomeness. -- Temerity, Rashness. These words are closely allied in sense, but have a
  • EMERITUS
    Honorably discharged from the performance of public duty on account of age, infirmity, or long and faithful services; -- said of an officer of a college or pastor of a church. (more info) emerere, emereri, to obtain by service, serve out one's
  • TOASTMASTER
    A person who presides at a public dinner or banquet, and announces the toasts.
  • REATTAIN
    To attain again.

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