Object

[Lat. objectus, objectum, Fr. objet, O. Sp. objecto, N. Sp. objeto, It. oggetto. See the verb.]

1Sense 1. Any thing set over against one; hence, that which is thrown or set out, or is considered as thrown or set out, before the mind, so that it can be seen and apprehended; that with which the mind is occupied in the act of knowing, whether external in space or formed by the mind itself.

Object is a term for that about which the knowing subject is conversant; what the schoolmen have styled the “materia circa quam.” Sir W. Hamilton.

2Sense 2. That to which the desire is directed; that on which the purposes are fixed as the end of action or effort; that which is sought for; end; aim; motive; final cause.

Object, beside its proper signification, came to be abusively applied to denote motive, end, final cause. . . . This innovation was probably borrowed from the French. Sir W. Hamilton.

3Sense 3. Sight; view; show; appearance. [Obs.]

He, advancing close Up to the lake, past all the rest, arose In glorious object, and made vaunt that he Came to depopulate all the progeny Of frogs. Chapman.

4Sense 4. (Gram.) That toward which an activity is directed, or is considered to be directed; as, the object of a transitive verb.

[imp. & p. p. OBJECTED; p. pr. & vb. n. OBJECTING.] [Lat. objicere, objectum, from prefix ob and jacere, to throw; Fr. objecter, Sp. objetar, It. obiettare, obbiettare, oggettare.] 1. To set before; to bring prominently to view; to bring into opposition; to expose. Of less account some knight thereto object, Whose loss so great and harmful can not prove. Fairfax. Pallas to their eyes The mist objected, and condensed the skies. Pope. 2. To present or offer in opposition, as a criminal charge, or as a reason adverse to something supposed to be erroneous or wrong;—with to or against. The book . . . giveth liberty to object any crime against such as are to be ordered. Whitgift. There was this single fault, that Erasmus, though an enemy, could object to him. Atterbury. 3. To reproach with; to hold up in reproach;—sometimes with to. He gave to him to object his heinous crime. Spenser. The Normans were apt to object gluttony and drunkenness to the vanquished Saxons, as vices peculiar to their inferior strain. W. Scott.

a. [Lat. objectus, p. p. of objicere. See supra.] Opposed; presented in opposition. [Obs.]