The word "gotten hold of" is a phrase commonly used in English to denote the act of obtaining or acquiring something. The spelling of "gotten hold of" can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The "g" in "gotten" is pronounced with a hard "g" sound as in "goat", while "hold" is pronounced with a silent "d" and a long "o" sound as in "hoe". And "of" is pronounced with a short "o" sound as in "hot". Together, the phrase has the phonetic transcription of /ˈɡɑtən hoʊld ʌv/.
"Got hold of" is a phrase that refers to the action of obtaining or acquiring something, often by grasping or capturing it. It suggests successfully gaining possession, control, or contact with a particular object or person.
Derived from the verb "get" combined with the noun "hold," this expression implies that the person has actively taken hold or secured something in their possession or control. It can convey the idea of physically grasping an item, such as "He got hold of the book from the shelf." Additionally, it may be used metaphorically to indicate gaining a mental or conceptual grasp, like "She finally got hold of the theory after studying it for hours."
This phrase can also apply to obtaining contact or communication with someone. For example, "I managed to get hold of John on his cell phone" means that the speaker successfully established a conversation or connection with John. Similarly, it can signify reaching someone or managing to find and speak to them, such as "I can't seem to get hold of the receptionist."
Overall, "gotten hold of" encompasses the act of acquiring, capturing, gaining control over, or establishing contact with something or someone, indicating successful and secure possession, control, or communication.