Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OB-SERV'ANT, a.

1. s as z.
2. Taking notice; attentively viewing or noticing; as, an observant spectator or traveler.
3. Obedient; adhering to in practice; with of. He is very observant of the rules of his order. we are told how observant Alexander was of his master Aristotle. Digby.
4. Carefully attentive; submissive. Ralegh.

OB-SERV'ANT, n.

1. s as z.
2. A slavish attendant [Not in use.] Shak.
3. A diligent observer. Hooker.

OB-SERV'ANT-LY, adv.

In an observant manner; attentively.

OB-SERV-A'TION, n.

1. s as z. [L. observatio. See Observe.]
2. The act of observing or taking notice; the act of seeing or of fixing the mind on any thing. We apply the word to simple vision, as when one says, a spot on the sun's disk did not fall under his observation; or to the notice or cognizance of the mind, as when one says, the distinction made by the orator escaped his observation. When however it expresses vision, it often represents a more fixed or particular view than a mere transient sight; as, an astronomical observation.
3. Notion gained by observing; the effect or result of seeing or taking cognizance in the mind, and either retained in the mind or expressed in words; inference or something arising out of the act of seeing or noticing, or that which is produced by thinking and reflecting on a subject; note; remark; animadversion. We often say; I made the observation in my own mind; but properly an observation is that which is expressed as the result of viewing or of thinking. In matters of human prudence, we shall find the greatest ad vantage by making wise observations on our conduct. Watts.
4. Observance; adherence to in practice; performance of what is prescribed. He freed the Christian church from the external observation and obedience of legal precepts not formally moral. White.
5. In navigation, the taking of the altitude of the sun or star in order to find the latitude. Encyc.

OB-SERV-A'TOR, n.

1. s as z. [Fr. observateur.]
2. One that observes or takes notice. Hale.
3. A remarker. Dryden.

OB-SERV'A-TO-RY, n.

as z. [Fr. observatoire.] A place or building for making observations on the heavenly bodies; as, the royal observatory at Greenwich.

OB-SERVE, v.i. observ.

1. To remark. I have heard the gentleman's arguments, and shall hereafter observe upon them.
2. To be attentive.

OB-SERVE, v.t. obzerv'. [L. observo; ob and servo, to keep or hold. The sense is to fold in view, or to keep the eye on. See Class Sr, No. 34, 33, 45, and Class Dr, No. 32.]

1. To see or behold with some attention; to notice; as, to observe a halo round the moon; I observed a singular phenomenon; we observe strangers or their dress. I saw the figure, but observed nothing peculiar in it.
2. To take notice or cognizance of by the intellect. We observe nice distinctions in arguments, or a peculiar delicacy of thought.
3. To utter or express, as a remark, opinion or sentiment; to remark. He observed that no man appears great to his domestics.
4. To keep religiously; to celebrate. A night to be much observed to the Lord. Exod. xii. Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Exod. xii. Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Gal. iv.
5. To keep or adhere to in practice; to comply with; to obey; as, to observe the laws of the state; to observe the rules and regulations of a society. Teaching them to abserve all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Matth. xxviii.
6. To practice. In the days of Enoch, the people observed not circumcision or the sabbath. White.

OB-SERV'ED, pp.

1. a as z.
2. Noticed by the eye or the mind.
3. Kept religiously; celebrated; practiced.

OB-SERV'ER, n.

1. s as z.
2. One who observes; one that takes notice; particularly, one who looks to with care, attention or vigilance. Careful observers may foretell the hour, By sure prognostic, when to dread a shower. Swift. Creditors are great observers of set days and times. Franklin.
3. A beholder; a looker on; a spectator. South.
4. One who keeps any law, custom, regulation or rite; one who adheres to any thing in practice; one who performs; as, a great observer of forms; an observer of old customs. Bacon.
5. One who fulfills or performs; as, he is a strict observer of his word or promise. Prior.
6. One who keeps religiously; as, an observer of the sabbath. Atterbury.

OB-SERV'ING, ppr.

1. s as z.
2. Taking notice by the eye or the intellect.
3. Remarking.
4. Keeping; adhering to in practice; fulfilling.
5. a. Giving particular attention; habitually taking notice; . attentive to what passes. He is an observing man.

OB-SERV'ING-LY, adv.

s as z. Attentively; carefully; with close observation. Shak.

OB-SESS', v.i. [L. obsideo, obsessus; ob and sedeo, to sit.]

To besiege. [Not used.] Elyot.

OB-SESS'ION, a. [L. obsessio.]

The act of besieging; the first attack of Satan antecedent; to possession. [Little used.] Burton.

OB-SES'SION, n.

The state of a person vexed or besieged by an evil spirit.

OB-SID'I-AN, n.

Glossy lava. A mineral of two kinds, translucent and transparent. The translucent has a velvet black color; the transparent is of a dark blue. These occur massive in porphyry, gneiss or granite, generally in. vested with a gray opake crust. Dict. Nat. Hist. Ure. Kirwan. The fracture of obsidian is vitreous or pearly; hence the two varieties, vitreous obsidian and pearlstone. Jameson.

OB-SID'I-ON-AL, a. [L. obsidionalis; ob and sedeo, to sit.]

Pertaining to a siege. Brown.

OB-SIG-IL-LA'TION, n. [L. ob and sigillo.]

A sealing up. [Not an use.]

OB-SIG-NATION, n.

The act of sealing; ratification by sealing; confirmation. Taylor.

OB-SIG'NA-TO-RY, a.

Ratifying; confirining by sealing. Ward.

OB-SO-LES'CENCE, ft.

The state of becoming obsolete. Crombie.

OB-SO-LES'CENT, a. [L. obsolesco, to go out of use.]

Going out of use; passing into desuetude. All the words compounded of here and a preposition except hereafter, are obsolete or obsolescent. Campbelt.

OB'SO-LETE, a. [L. obsoletus.]

1. Gone into disuse; disused; neglected; as, an obsolete word; an obsolete statute; applied chiefly to words or writings. Dryden. Swift.
2. In botany, obscure; not very distinct. Eaton.

OB'SO-LETE-NESS, n.

1. The state of being neglected in to use; a state of desuetude. Johnson.
2. In botany, indistinctness. Obsta principus. [L] Resist the beginnings.

OB'STA-CLE, n. [Fr. from L. obsto; to withstand ob and sto.]

That which opposes; any thing that stands in the way and hinders progress; hinderance; obstruction, either in a physical or moral sense. An army may meet with obstacles on its march; bad roads are obstacles to traveling; prejudice is an obstacle to improvement; want of union as often an insuperable obstacle to beneficial measures.