obtinebam

Obtinebam is a Latin verb form meaning “I was obtaining” or “I used to obtain.” It is the first-person singular imperfect active indicative of the verb obtinēre (to obtain, to hold, to possess). The verb belongs to the second conjugation; its present indicative is obtineō, and the imperfect is formed with the suffix -bam, giving obtinebam. The imperfect expresses past ongoing actions or repeated past actions.

As a transitive verb, obtinēre takes a direct object in the accusative. For example, obtinebam pecuniam can be translated as “I was obtaining money” or “I used to obtain money.” In Latin narrative, obtinebam is used to describe actions that were in progress at a past time or habits of possession or acquisition.

Etymology: obtinebam derives from ob- (toward, against) and tenēre (to hold), conveying the sense of holding onto or obtaining something.

Related forms include the present active obtineō (I obtain), the future obtinebo (I will obtain), and the perfect obtinuī (I obtained). The supine of obtinēre is obtentum, and the perfect passive participle is obtentus. The form is a standard part of Latin grammar and appears in classical authors to describe securing, maintaining, or acquiring something.

Note: Spelling may appear as obtinebam with a long initial vowel (obtinēbam) in editions that mark vowel length. Overall, obtinebam serves as a typical example of the imperfect passive-like patterns found in the second-conjugation Latin verbs.