obtained

Obtained is the past tense and past participle of the verb obtain. Obtain means to gain possession of something through effort, request, procedure, or chance; to receive as a result; to acquire or procure. The word is commonly used in formal, neutral, or technical writing and in everyday reporting of results.

Etymology and form: obtain comes from Old French obtenir, which derives from Latin obtinere, meaning to hold toward or to hold. In English, obtain appears in base form (obtain), with the standard past tense obtained and the present participle obtaining. The third-person singular present tense is obtains.

Usage and nuance: obtain is often employed when the emphasis is on successfully gaining something through action, process, or compliance with rules. Typical collocations include obtain information, obtain permission, obtain data, obtain consent, and obtain evidence. The phrase The results were obtained from the experiment is common in scientific writing. In legal or formal contexts, obtain may convey legitimacy or procedural accomplishment.

Obtainment and related forms: the noun obtainment is rare and somewhat archaic or formal; obtainment refers to the act of obtaining but is infrequently used. The gerund obtaining is common and denotes the act of acquiring or procuring. In contrast, casual speech more often uses get or receive.

Synonyms and distinctions: acquire emphasizes growth or accumulation over time; procure stresses obtaining through effort or supplier arrangements; secure implies successful, often safe possession. Thus obtain sits between general acquisition and formal procurement, suitable for precise, neutral description.