obtineō (opt-) tinuī, tentus, ēre ob+teneo, to hold fast, have, occupy, possess, preserve, keep, maintain: quas (regiones) Suebi obtinerent, Cs.: Galliam armis, L.: cum imperio Hispaniam citeriorem, be governor in: ex quā insulā nummus nullus, me obtinente, erogabatur, during my administration.

—To maintain, keep, preserve, uphold: ad obtinendos exercitūs evocari, Cs.: necessitudinem cum publicanis: pol Crito antiquom obtines, your old self, T.: causam, maintain, Cs.: noctem insequentem eadem caligo obtinuit, prevailed during, L.: quae (fama) plerosque obtinet, is generally accepted, S.: quod fama obtinuit, L.: proverbi locum, i. e. to become proverbial: numerum deorum, be numbered among: pontem, would not yield, L.

—To assert, maintain, show, prove, demonstrate: possumus hoc teste . . . quod dicimus, obtinere?: duas contrarias sententias.

—To get possession of, gain, acquire, obtain: malas causas, gained: Romani si rem obtinuerint, gained the victory, Cs.

— To bring about, bring to pass, obtain: ut consulerentur patres, L.