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-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.Ob-stĕt'ri-cāte, v. i. p. 903To perform the office of a midwife. [Obs.] Evelyn.Ob-stēt'ri-cāte, v. t. p. 903To assist as a midwife. [Obs.] Waterhouse.Ob-stēt'ri-cā'tion, n. p. 903The act of assisting as a midwife. 2. The office of a midwife. Bp. Hall.Ŏb'ste-trī'cian, n. p. 903One skilled in obstetrics.Ŏb'ste-trī'ciōŭs, a. p. 903Serving to assist or facilitate childbirth; obstetric; hence, facilitating or encouraging production. [Obs.] Yet is all human teaching but maieutical, or obstetricious. Cudworth.Ob-stĕt'rĭcs, n. sing. p. 903The science of midwifery; the art of assisting women in parturition. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Ob-stēt'ri-cy, n. p. 903The same as OBSTETRICS. [Rare.] Dunglison.ŏb’sti-na-cy, n. p. 903A fixedness in opinion or resolution that can not be shaken at all, or not without great difficulty; firm and usually unreasonable adherence to an opinion, purpose, or system; a fixedness that will…Ŏb'sti-nate, a. p. 903Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion or purpose; fixed firmly in resolution; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; — usually in a bad sense, implying…ŏb'sti-nate-ly, adv. p. 903In an obstinate manner; stubbornly; pertinaciously. “Inflexible to ill and obstinately just.” Addison.Ŏb'sti-nate-ness, n. p. 903The state or quality of being obstinate; stubbornness; pertinacity.Ŏb'sti-nā'tion, n. p. 903The quality of being obstinate; obstinacy. [Obs.] Bp. Taylor.Ob'sti-pā'tion, n. p. 903The act of stopping up; as, a passage. 2. (Med.) Costiveness; constipation. [Obs.]Ob-strēp’er-oŭs, a. p. 903Attended by, or making, a tumultuous noise; loud; clamorous; noisy. “Beating the air with their obstreperous beaks.” B. Jonson. The players do not only connive at his obstreperous approbation, but…Ob-strēp'er-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 903With tumultuous noise; loudly; clamorously.Ob-strēp’er-oŭs-ness, n. p. 903The state or quality of being obstreperous; loudness; clamor.Ob-strĭc'tion, n. p. 903The state of being constrained or obliged; that which constrains or obliges; obligation; bond. [Rare.] Milton.Ob-strūct', v. t. p. 903To block up; to stop up or close, as a way or passage; to fill with obstacles or impediments that prevent passing; as, to obstruct a road, highway, or channel; to obstruct the canals or fine vessels…Ob-strūct'er, n. p. 903One who obstructs or hinders.Ob-strūc'tion, n. p. 903The act of obstructing, or the state of being obstructed. 2. That which obstructs or impedes; obstacle; impediment; hindrance. 3. The condition of having the natural powers obstructed or hindered…Ob-strūct'ive, a. p. 904Tending to obstruct; presenting obstacles; hindering; causing impediment.Ob-strūct'ive, n. p. 904Obstacle; impediment. [Obs.]Ob-strŭct'ive-ly, adv. p. 904In an obstructive manner.Ŏb'stru-ent, a. p. 904Blocking up; hindering.Ŏb'stru-ent, n. p. 904Any thing that obstructs or closes a passage; especially that which obstructs the natural passages in the body.Ob-stū'pe-făc'tion, n. p. 904The same as STUPEFACTION. [Obs.]Ob-stū'pe-fāc'tive, a. p. 904The same as STUPEFACTIVE. [Obs.]Ob-stū'pe-fy, v. t. p. 904The same as STUPEFY. [Obs.]Ob-tāin', v. t. p. 904To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to acquire. Some pray for riches; riches they obtain. Dryden. 2. To maintain a hold upon; to keep; to possess. [Obs. and rare.] His mother then is…