Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (v. t.) To hold; to keep; to possess.

2. (v. t.) To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way.

3. (v. i.) To become held; to gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized or established; to subsist; to become prevalent or general; to prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer.

4. (v. i.) To prevail; to succeed.