I.perf. OPTENVI, fifth Epit. of the Scipios; inf. pass. obtinerier, Plaut. Am. 3, 2, 19; id. Most. 3, 2, 154), v. a. and n. teneo.
I. Act. *
A. To take hold of, hold: “obtine aures, amabo,” Plaut. Cas. 3, 5, 16.—
B. To hold, have, occupy, possess; to preserve, keep, maintain, etc. (class.).
1. In gen.: sancte Apollo, qui umbilicum certum terrarum obtines, Poët. ap. Cic. Div. 2, 56, 115 (Trag. Rel. p. 201 Rib.): “suam quisque domum tum obtinebat,” Cic. Phil. 2, 19, 48: “armis Galliam atque Italiam,” Liv. 30, 19: “cum imperio Hispaniam citeriorem,” to have as his province, to be governor in it, Cic. Fam. 1, 9, 2: “Galliam et Italiam,” Liv. 30, 19: “Africam,” Nep. Timol. 2, 4; cf.: “ex quā insulā nummus nullus, me obtinente, erogabitur,” during my administration, Cic. Att. 5, 21, 7: QVEI AERARIVM PROVINCIAM OBTINEBIT, who will have the administration of the public treasure, Lex Thor. § 20 Rudorff. p. 168; “Lex de Scribis ap. Haubold, p. 85: necessitudinem cum publicanis,” Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 12, § 35: “vitam et famam,” to preserve, id. Rosc. Am. 17, 49: “auctoritatem suam,” to maintain, id. ib. 48, 139: “principatum,” Caes. B. G. 1, 3: “regnum,” id. ib. 1, 7: “jus,” to assert, maintain, Tac. A. 1, 32: “causam,” Caes. B. G. 7, 37, 4: “noctem insequentem eadem caligo obtinuit,” occupied, took up, prevailed during, Liv. 29, 27: “quae (fama) plerosque obtinet,” Sall. J. 17, 7: “proverbii locum obtinet,” i. e. is become proverbial, Cic. Tusc. 4, 16, 36: “parentis gravitatem,” id. Sull. 6, 19: “numerum deorum,” to be numbered among, id. N. D. 3, 20, 51; so, “aliquem numerum,” id. Brut. 47, 175; cf. id. Off. 2, 12, 43: summam opinionem m scholis, Quint. 10, 5, 18: “admirationem,” to be admired, Plin. 34, 2, 2, § 2: “patriae nomen,” id. 15, 18, 19, § 69: “firmitudinem animi,” i. e. exhibited, Plaut. As. 2, 2, 54: “pontem,” would not yield, Liv. 2, 10: “silentiam,” to maintain, id. 1, 16.—With inf., to persist in: “earumque artem et disciplinam obtineat colere,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 30.—
2. In partic., of speech, to assert, maintain, i. e. to show, prove, demonstrate: “possumus hoc teste ... quod dicimus, obtinere?” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 71, § 168: “duas contrarias sententias,” id. Fin. 4, 28, 78: “diu pugnare in iis, quae obtinere non possis,” Quint. 6, 4, 15: “recta apud turpes,” id. 3, 8, 38: “quaedam (leges) an obtineri possint,” id. 2, 4, 39; 6, 1, 7: “quod orator praecipue sibi obtinendum intellegit,” id. 3, 6, 9 Spald. N. cr. (al. proponendum); cf. id. 12, 10, 53: “si defecerint omnia, tum videndum erit, an obtineri possit, ne illud quidem recte factum,” id. 5, 13, 24; 2, 5, 18.—
C. To get possession of; to gain, acquire, obtain something (syn.: assequor, adipiscor, impetro; “class.): quanta instrumenta habeat (homo) ad obtinendam adipiscendamque sapientiam,” Cic. Leg. 1, 22, 59: “impetrare et obtinere,” Gell. 12, 14, 6; Cic. Fam. 1, 8, 5: “malas causas semper obtinuit, in optimā concidit,” gained, id. Att. 7, 25, 1; cf. id. Rosc. Com. 4, 10: “jus suum contra aliquem,” id. Quint. 9, 34: “Romani si rem obtinuerint,” if they gained the victory, Caes. B. G. 7, 85: voluimus quaedam; “obtenta non sunt,” Cic. Balb. 27, 61: “apud eum causam obtinuit,” Caes. B. G. 7, 37: “aditu regis obtento,” Just. 21, 6, 5.—Hence, to conquer, overcome (eccl. Lat.): “melius est ut pugnemus contra eos in campestribus, et obtinebimus eos,” Vulg. 3 Reg. 20, 23; 20, 25; id. Judith, 1, 5.—
II. Neutr. (cf. teneo, II.), to maintain itself; to hold, prevail, last, stand, continue, obtain (not in Cic.): “quod et plures tradidere auctores et fama obtinuit,” Liv. 21, 46, 10; cf. with a subject-clause: pro vero antea obtinebat, regna atque imperia Fortunam dono dare, Sall. Rep. Ordin. init.: “non ipsos quoque fuisse pastores obtinebit, quod? etc.,” Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 9: “si dissentirent, sententia plurium obtineret,” would prevail, Dig. 42, 1, 36: “quod merito obtinuit,” ib. 2, 4, 4.—Absol.: “obtinuit (sc. consuetudo),” Dig. 1, 13, 1.—With de: quia de intercalando non obtinuerat, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 6, 5.—With ut or ne: “his obtinuit, ut praeferretur candidato,” Liv. 35, 10; Suet. Claud. 41: “obtinuit, ne reus fieret,” id. Caes. 23.—With quin, Suet. Tib. 31.
