obtention
noun
Obtention — a rare formal term for the successful securing of something
Definition
The act of obtaining
In depth
Obtention, like obtainment, names the act of obtaining, an even rarer formal noun for successfully gaining or securing something sought after. The word appears almost exclusively in highly formal, legal, or bureaucratic writing, where its unusual construction lends a particular weight and precision to the description of a successful, often difficult process.
Origin
The word shares its root with 'obtainment,' both descending from Latin obtinere, to hold or possess. Its rarity reflects a pattern common across English vocabulary, in which multiple noun forms derived from the same root verb eventually compete, with one form, in this case 'obtaining,' becoming dominant while alternatives like 'obtention' recede into specialized, infrequent use.
Usage examples
"The obtention of the required clearance took considerably longer than the agency had originally projected."
"Legal historians note the obtention of such privileges was rarely straightforward in earlier centuries."
"Her obtention of the rare license marked the culmination of years of specialized training."
How to use it
Obtention is extremely rare in contemporary English, largely confined to formal legal or bureaucratic writing; in nearly every practical context, 'obtaining' or 'acquisition' will serve far more naturally and be more readily understood.
Related concepts
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