obtend

present singular third person obtends · participle present obtending · participle past obtended · past obtended

1. obsoleteTo oppose; to hold out in opposition.

   ’Twas giv’n to you, your darling son to shroud, To draw the dastard from the fighting crowd, And, for a man, obtend an empty cloud.

   1697, Virgil, “The Tenth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   2 more examples

   Secondly, Whereas he so importunately obtends the style of the letter, as so demonstratively characteristicall of the Au∣thor the truth is that heretofore I have been somewhat conversant in the books and wri∣tings of this Author

   1658, John Goodwin, Triumvuri

   But Dissenters are under no such Obligation, that they know of, to endeavour such Conjunction with them who obtend their meer Wills to their Edification; and some pretend farther, That they are under a Solemn Covenant to endeavour a Reformation according to the Word of God, in their respective places and sta∣tions, and therefore ought not to comply with any Declensions and De∣partures from such Reformation.

   1680, Vincent Alsop, The mischief of impositions

2. obsoleteTo offer as the reason for something; to pretend.

   Be mindful of yourselves, draw forth your swords,//And to his shafts obtend these ample boards

   1725–1726, Homer, “(please specify the book or chapter of the Odyssey)”, in [William Broome, Elijah Fenton, Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC

   1 more example

   We rendred another reason (which we have the cleare testimony of our consciences for, was the true reason why we left them out) and that which you obtend no reason at all) yet as though you did communicate with God, in his incommunicable excellency

   1646, Samuel Eaaton, The defence of sundry positions & scriptures for the Congregational-way justified […]