Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OB'SE-RA-TING, ppr.

Locking up.

OB-SERV'A-BLE, a. [s as z. See Observe.]

1. That may be observed or noticed.
2. Worthy of observation or of particular notice; remarkable. I took a just account of every observable circumstance of the earth, stone, metal or other matter. Woodward.

OB-SERV'A-BLY, adv. [s as z.]

In a manner worthy of note. Brown.

OB-SERV'ANCE, n. [s as z; Fr. See Observe.]

1. The act of observing; the act of keeping or adhering to in practice; performance; as, the observance of rules, rites, ceremonies or laws. Love rigid honesty, / And strict observance of impartial laws. Roscommon.
2. Respect; ceremonial reverence in practice. To do observance on the morn of May. Shak.
3. Performance of rites, religious ceremonies or external service. Some represent to themselves the whole of religion as consisting in a few easy observances. Rogers.
4. Rule of practice; things to be observed. Shak.
5. Observation; attention to. [Little used.] Hale.
6. Obedient regard or attention. Having had experience of his fidelity and observance abroad. [Not used.] Wotton.

OB-SERV-AND'A, n. [plur. s as z. L.]

Things to be observed. Swift.

OB-SERV'ANT, a. [s as z.]

1. Taking notice; attentively viewing or noticing; as, an observant spectator or traveler.
2. 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.
3. Carefully attentive; submissive. Ralegh.

OB-SERV'ANT, n. [s as z.]

1. A slavish attendant. [Not in use.] Shak.
2. A diligent observer. Hooker.

OB-SERV'ANT-LY, adv.

In an observant manner; attentively.

OB-SERV-A'TION, n. [s as z; L. observatio. See Observe.]

1. 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.
2. 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 advantage by making wise observations on our conduct. Watts.
3. 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.
4. In navigation, the taking of the altitude of the sun or a star in order to find the latitude. Encyc.

OB-SERV-A'TOR, n. [s as z; Fr. observateur.]

1. One that observes or takes notice. Hale.
2. A remarker. Dryden.

OB-SERV'A-TO-RY, n. [s 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 observe 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. [s as z.]

1. Noticed by the eye or the mind.
2. Kept religiously; celebrated; practiced.

OB-SERV'ER, n. [s as z.]

1. 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.
2. A beholder; a looker on; a spectator. South.
3. 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.
4. One who fulfills or performs; as, he is a strict observer of his word or promise. Prior.
5. One who keeps religiously; as, an observer of the sabbath. Atterbury.

OB-SERV'ING, ppr. [s as z.]

1. Taking notice by the eye or the intellect.
2. Remarking.
3. Keeping; adhering to in practice; fulfilling.
4. adj. 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 invested 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'NATE, v.t. [L. obsigno; ob and signo, to seal.]

To seal up; to ratify. [Little used.] Barrow.

OB-SIG-NA'TION, n.

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