Lewis & Short

ob-tendo, di, tum, 3, v. a.

  1. I. To draw, stretch, spread, or place before (cf. obtego; not freq. till after the Aug. per.).
    1. A. Lit.
      1. 1. Proque viro nebulam et ventos obtendere inanes, Verg. A. 10, 82: sudarium ante faciem, Suet. Ner. 48.
        Poet.: obtentā nocte, i. e. in dark night, Verg. G. 1, 248.
      2. 2. Pass., with mid. force: oculis membrana obtenditur, spreads over, Plin. 11, 37, 55, § 153: Britannia Germaniae obtenditur, lies over against Germany, Tac. Agr. 10.
    2. B. Trop., to pretend, allege, plead as an excuse: matris preces obtendens, Tac. A. 3, 17: ad ea Drusus cum arbitrium senatūs obtenderet, id. ib. 1, 26: valetudinem corporis, aetatem liberūm, nubilem filiam, id. ib. 3, 35: suae imbecillitati sanitatis appellationem obtendunt, Quint. 12, 10, 15: rationem turpitudini, Plin. Ep. 8, 6, 15: qui delictis suis excusationem carnis obtendet, Lact. 4, 24, 10: quid poterimus obtendere, plead what excuse, Vulg. Gen. 44, 16.
  2. II. Transf., to cover, hide, conceal.
    1. A. Lit.: obtendunt limina silvis, Stat. Th. 2, 248: lucem pulvere, Sil. 10, 228: diem nube atrā, Tac. H. 3, 56.
    2. B. Trop., to hide, conceal, envelop: quasi velis quibusdam obtenditur uniuscujusque natura, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 5, § 15.
      1. 2. To spread over, make a cover for: Vitellius curis luxum obtendebat, i. e. sought a refuge from, Tac. H. 3, 36 init.