Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ob-scēne', a. p. 902Offensive to chastity and delicacy; expressing or presenting to the mind or view something which delicacy, purity, and decency forbid to be exposed; impure; as, obscene language; obscene pictures. 2.…Ob-scēne'ly, adv. p. 902In a manner offensive to chastity or purity; impurely; unchastely.Ob-scēne'ness or Ob-scēn'i-ty, n. p. 902That quality in words or things which presents what is offensive to chastity or purity of mind; ribaldry; impurity; lewdness. To wash the obscenities of night away. Dryden. No pardon vile obscenity…Ob-scū'rant, n. p. 902One who obscures; one who hinders or prevents enlightenment or the progress of knowledge. I will venture to appeal to these self-obscurants, whose faith dwells in the land of the shadow of darkness.…Ob-sēūr'ant-īsm, n. p. 902The system or the principles of one who desires to extinguish the lights of reason and inquiry among the people; and who opposes the progress of knowledge.Ob-sēūr'ant-ist, n. p. 902One who seeks to obscure the light of knowledge; one who opposes the progress of knowledge and enlightenment; an obscurant. “An author of the obscurantist or pseudo-conservative school.” C. Kingsley.Ŏb'scu-rā'tion, n. p. 902The act of obscuring. 2. The state of being obscured; as, the obscuration of the moon in an eclipse.Ob-scūre', a. p. 902Covered over, shaded, darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Prov. xx. 20. 2. Living in…Ob-scūre', v. t. p. 902To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to conceal; to hide from view; to make less intelligible, legible, visible, glorious, beautiful, or illustrious. They are couched in a pit hard by Herne's…Ob-scūre′, v. i. p. 902To conceal one's self; to hide. [Obs.] How! there's bad news. I must obscure, and hear it. Beau. & Fl.Ob-scūre', n. p. 902Obscurity. [Obs.] “The dark and palpable obscure.” Milton.Ob-scūre'ly, adv. p. 902In an obscure manner; imperfectly; darkly; dimly; privately; indirectly.Ob-scūre'ment, n. p. 902The act of obscuring, or the state of being obscured; obscuration. [Obs.]Ob-scūre'ness or Ob-scū'ri-ty, n. p. 902The state or quality of being obscure; darkness; privacy; unintelligibleness; humility. You are not for obscurity designed. Dryden. They were now brought forth from obscurity, to be contemplated by…Ob-scūr'er, n. p. 902One who, or that which, obscures.Ŏb'se-crāte, v. t. p. 902To beseech; to entreat; to supplicate. Cockeram.Ŏb'se-crā'tion, n. p. 902Act of obsecrating or imploring. Stillingfleet. 2. (Rhet.) A figure of speech in which the orator implores the assistance of God or man.Ŏb'se-erā'to-ry, a. p. 902Expressing, or used in, entreaty; supplicatory. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Ŏb'se-quent, a. p. 902Obedient; submissive. [Obs.]Ob-sē'qui-ence, n. p. 902Obsequiousness. [Rare.]Ob-sē'qui-ous, a. p. 902Promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another. [Obs.] His servants weeping. Obsequious to his orders, bear him hither. Addison. 2. Hence…Ob-sē'qui-ōs-ly, adv. p. 902In an obsequious manner; with obsequiousness; with prompt compliance. They rise, and with respectful awe, At the word given, obsequiously withdraw. Dryden. 2. In a manner appropriate to obsequies…Ob-sē'qui-oŭs-ness, n. p. 902The state of being obsequious; ready obedience; servile submission. They apply themselves both to his interest and humor, with all the arts of flattery and obsequiousness. South.Ōb'se-quy, n. p. 902A funeral rite or solemnity; the last duty performed to a deceased person;—rare in the singular; chiefly used in the plural. Him I'll solemnly attend With silent obsequy and funeral train. Milton. I…Ōb'se-rāte, v. t. p. 902To lock up. [Obs.]Ob-sĕrv'a-ble, a. p. 902Worthy or capable of being observed or noticed; remarkable. The difference is sufficiently observable. Southey.Ob-sērv'a-ble-ness, n. p. 902The state or quality of being observable; remarkableness.Ob-sĕrv'a-bly, adv. p. 902In an observable manner; in a manner worthy of note.Ob-sĕrv'ance, n. p. 902The act of observing or noticing with attention; fidelity of performance; attention; tokens or marks of fidelity. O that I wasted time to tend upon her, To compass her with sweet observances!…Ob-sĕrv'an-cy, n. p. 902The same as OBSERVANCE. [Obs.]Ŏb'ser-vān'dum, n. p. 902A thing to be observed.Ob-sĕrv'ant, a. p. 902Taking notice; attentively viewing or noticing; as, an observant spectator or traveler. 2. Obedient; adhering to in practice;—with of; as, he is very observant of the rules of his order. We are told…Ob-sĕrv'ant, n. p. 902One who rigidly adheres to rule; also, a formal or sycophantic servant. [Obs.] Than twenty silly ducking observants, That stretch their duties nicely. Shak. 2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a monkish…Ob-sĕrv'ant-ly, adv. p. 902In an observant manner; attentively.Ŏb'ser-vā'tion, n. p. 902The act or power of observing or taking notice; the act of seeing, or of fixing the mind upon, any thing. 2. That which is observed or noticed; notion gained, or the gaining of notions, by observing.…Ŏb'ser-vā'tion-al, a. p. 903Consisting of, or containing, remarks or observations.Ob-sĕrv'a-tive, a. p. 903Observing; watchful.Ŏb'ser-vā'tor, n. p. 903One who observes or takes notice. Hale. 2. A remarker. Dryden.Ob-sĕrv'a-to-ry, n. p. 903A place from which a view may be observed or commanded. 2. Especially, a place or building for making observations on the heavenly bodies; as, the royal observatory at Greenwich. 3. Hence, a building…Ob-sĕrve', v. t. p. 903To be on the watch respecting; to pay attention to; to notice with care; as, to observe an eclipse; to observe a strange phenomenon; to observe the color or fashion of a dress. “Ever to observe his…Ob-sĕrve', v. i. p. 903To take notice; to attend. 2. To make a remark; to comment. I have barely quoted, . . . without observing upon it. Pope. Syn. — To remark. See REMARK.Ob-sĕrv'er, n. p. 903One who observes, or pays careful attention to, any thing. Careful observers may foretell the hour, By sure prognostic, when to dread a shower. Swift. 2. Especially, (a.) A sycophantic follower; a…Ob-sĕrv'er-ship, n. p. 903The state, office, supervision, or care, of an observer.Ob-sĕrv'ing, a. p. 903Giving particular attention; habitually taking notice; attentive to what passes; as, he is an observing man.Ob-sĕrv'ing-ly, adv. p. 903In an observing manner; attentively; carefully.Ob-sĕss', v. i. p. 903To besiege. [Obs.] Elyot.Ob-sés'sion, n. p. 903The act of besieging, or the state of being besieged. 2. The state of a person vexed or besieged by an evil spirit, antecedent to possession. [Obs.] Whether by obsession, possession, or otherwise, I…Ob-sĭd'i-an, n. p. 903(Min.) A kind of glass produced by volcanoes. It is usually of a black color, and opaque, except in thin splinters. Dana.Ob-sĭd’ĭ-o-nal, a. p. 903Pertaining to a siege. Obsidional crown, a crown bestowed upon a general who raised the siege of a beleaguered place. We shall hardly gain the obsidional crown, which, you are well aware, was made of…Ob-sĭg'il-lā'tion, n. p. 903A sealing up. [Obs.]Ob-sig'nāte, v. t. p. 903To seal up; to ratify. [Obs.] Barrow.ŏb'sig-nā'tion, n. p. 903The act of sealing; the state of being sealed or confirmed;— said especially of sealing by the Holy Spirit. The spirit of manifestation will but upbraid you in the shame and horror of a sad eternity…Ob-sig′na-to-ry, a. p. 903Ratifying; confirming by sealing. [Obs.]Ŏb'so-lēs'cence, n. p. 903The state of becoming obsolete.Ŏb'so-lĕs'cent, a. p. 903Going out of use; passing into desuetude. All the words compounded of “here” and a preposition, except “hereafter,” are obsolete or obsolescent. Campbell.Ŏb'so-lēte, a. p. 903No longer common; gone into disuse; disused; neglected; as, an obsolete word; an obsolete statute; — applied chiefly to words, writings, or observances. 2. (Nat. Hist.) Not very distinct; obscure…Ŏb'so-lēte'ness, n. p. 903The state of being obsolete, or no longer common; a state of desuetude. 2. (Nat. Hist.) Indistinctness; want of development.Ob'sta-cle, n. p. 903That which stands in the way, or opposes; any thing that hinders progress; hindrance; obstruction, either in a physical or moral sense. If all obstacles were cut away, And that my path were even to…Ŏb'stan-cy, n. p. 903Opposition; impediment; obstruction. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Ob-stet'rie or Ob-stet'rie-al, a. p. 903Pertaining to midwifery, or the delivery of women in childbed; as, the obstetric art.