obsequious1 (obsekwius)

[Early mod. E. obsequy ous; He came vnto the kynges grace, and wayted vppon hym, and was no man so obsequy ous and seruiceable. Tyndale, Works, p. 368. I see you are obsequious in your love. IMG:content-1584.png:[blocks in formation] =Syn. 2. Servile, slavish, sycophantic. See obedience . obsequious2t (ob-se'kwi-us), a . [ obsequy2 + -ous , after obsequious1 .] 1. Funereal; pertaining to funeral rites. And the survivor bound In filial obligation for some term To do obsequious sorrow. Shak ., Hamlet, i. 2. 92. 2. Absorbed in grief, as a mourner at a fu neral. My sighing breast shall be my funeral bell; And so obsequious will thy father be, Even for the lo of thee. Shak., 3 Hen. VI., ii. 5. 118. obsequiouslyl (ob-seʻkwi-us-li), adv. In an obsequious manner; with eager obedience; with servile compliance; abjectly. obsequiously2t (ob-sē'kwi-us-li), adv. In the manner of a mourner; with reverence for the dead. Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster. Shak., Rich. III., i. 2. 3. The obsequiousne (ob-se'kwi-us-nes), n . quality or state of being obsequious; ready obe- dience; prompt compliance with the commands of another; servile submi ion; officious or su- per serviceable readine to serve. =Syn. Compli- ance, etc. See obedience . obsequylt (ob'se-kwi), n. [=Sp. obsequio = It. o equio , L. obsequium , compliance, yielding- ne , obedience, obsequi , comply with, yield pliance, deferential service obseque Cf. Cf. ob obsequy2 .] Ready com- obsequent. Ours had rather be Censured by some for too much obsequy Than tax'd of self opinion. Mas singer , The Bashful Lover, Prol. obsequy2 (ob'sē-kwi), n.; pl. obsequies (-kwiz). [Chiefly in pl.; in ME. obseque, quente, Pliant and obsequent to his pleasure, even against the propriety of its own particular nature. Fother by , Atheomastix, p. 181. (Latham.) obsequial (ob-sē'kwi-al), a . [ LL.obsequial is , pertaining to obsequies, obsequiæ , obsequies: see obsequy2 .] Of or pertaining to obsequies or funeral ceremonies. Parson Welles, as the last obsequial act, in the name of the bereaved family, thanked the people for their kindne and attention to the dead and the living. IMG:content-1585.png:[blocks in formation] obsequience (ob-sē'kwi-ens), n. [An erroneous form for * obsequence , L. obsequent i a, com- pliance, obsequiousne , obsequen (t-)s, com- pliant: see obsequent .] Obsequiousne . By his [Titian's] grave courtly obsequience . IMG:content-1586.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1587.png:[blocks in formation] This towne was formerly a Greeke colonie, built by the Samians, a reasonable commodious port, and full of ob servable antiquities. Evelyn, Diary, Feb. 7, 1645. 3. That may or must be observed, followed, or kept: as, the formalities observable at court. The forms observable in social intercourse occur also in political and religious intercourse as forms of homage and forms of worship. H. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., § 348. II.t n. A noticeable or noteworthy fact or thing; something worth observing. from two different senses of the same root-to pay regard to, and to watch. Observation is watching or notice; ob servance is keeping, conforming to, or complying with. Observation was formerly used in the sense of observance: as, "the observation of the Sabbath is again commanded" (caption to Ex. xxx i.); "the opinions which he [Milton] has expre ed respecting. the observation of the Sabbath might, we think, have caused more just surprise" ( Macaulay, Milton); but this use is now obsolescent. It is desirable that the words should be kept distinct. It is a custom More honour'd in the breach than the observance. Shak ., Hamlet, i. 4. 16. Observation of the moon's changes leads at length to a theory of the solar system. H. Spencer , Prin. of Sociol., § 12. 5. Form, Rite, etc. See ceremony. observancy (ob-zėr'van-si), n. [As observance (see-cy).] Heedful or obedient regard; observance; obsequiousne . [Rare.] How bend him To such observancy of beck and call. Among other observables, we drunk the King's health Browning , Ring and Book, I. 179. out of a gilt cup given by King Henry VIII. to this Comobservandum (ob-zėr-van'dum), n.; pl. obser- pany. Pepys , Diary, I. 391. My chief Care hath been to be as particular as was consistent with my intended brevity, in setting down such Observables as I met with. Dampier , Voyages, I., Pref. observablene (ob-zérva-bl-nes), n. The character of being observable. observably (ob-zėr'va-bli), adv. In an observa ably. And therefore also it is prodigious to have thunder in a clear sky, as is observably recorded in some histories. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., ii. 5. observalt (ob-zėr'val), n . [ observe + -al . ] Observation. A previous observal of what has been said of them. Roger North , Examen, p. 659. ( Davies .) observance (ob-zėr'vans), n. [ obser vance , observance , observance = Sp. Pg. observancia = It. o ervanzia , o ervanza , observant i a , a watching, noting, attention, respect, keeping, etc., observan (t-)s, ppr. of observare , watch, note, observe: see observant . ] 1†. Attention; perception; heed; observation. Me . She shows a body rather than a life, A statue than a breather. Cleo. Is this certain? IMG:content-1588.png:[blocks in formation] 2. Respectful regard or attention; hence, rev- erence; homage. [Now rare.] Alas! wher is become youre gentile e? Youre wordes ful of plesaunce and humble e? Youre observaunces in so low manere? Shak., As you Like it, v. 2. 102. Oh, stand up, And let me kneel! the light will be asham'd To see observance done to me by you. Beau , and Fl . , King and No King, iii. 1. Her eyes on all my motions with a mute observance hung. Tennyson, Locksley Hall. by good powers of observation, or attention, care, accuracy, etc., in observing: as, an ob servant mind; a man of observant habits. Wandering from clime to clime observant stray'd, Their manners noted, and their states survey'd. Pope , Ody ey, i. 5. 2. Attentive; obedient; submi ive; ready to obey and serve; hence, obsequious: with to or of before a personal object. [Now rare.] Then Obedience, by her an elephant, the strongest beast, but most observant to man of any creature. Webster, Monuments of Honour. observationally Our Curiosity was again arrested by the observation of another Tower, which appear'd in a thicket not far from the way side. Maundrell , Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 23. The North American Indian had no better eyes than the white man; but he had trained his powers of observation in a certain direction, till no sign of the woods escaped him. J. F. Clarke , Self-Culture, p. 114. 2. The habit or power of observing and noting: as, a man of great observation. I told you Angling is an art, either by practice or a long observation, or both. I. Walton , Complete Angler, p. 99. If my observation , which very seldom lies, By the heart's still rhetoric disclosed with eyes, Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected. Shak., L. L. L., ii. 1. 228. 3. An act of scientific observing; an accurate remarking (often with measurement) of a fact directly presented to the senses, together with the conditions under which it is presented: as, a meridian observation, made by a navigator, in which he measures the sun's altitude when on the meridian for the purpose of calculating the latitude; the meteorological observations made by the Signal Service Bureau. In those sciences which describe and explain provinces of the universe as it exists, such as astronomy and systematic biology, observations are, for the most part, made under circumstances or conditions which may be selected, but cannot be produced at will. But in those sciences which analyze the behavior of substances under various conditions it is customary first to place the object to be examined under artificially produced conditions, and then to make an observation upon it. This whole performance, of which the observation is a part, is called an experiment. Formerly sciences were divided into sciences of experiment and sciences of observation, meaning observation without experiment. But now experiments are made in all sciences. It is only occasionally that the word obser vation has been used to imply the absence of experimentation. Confounding observation with experiment or invention the act of a cave-man in betaking himself to a drifting tree with that of Noah in building himself an ark. J. Ward, Encyc. Brit., XX. 75. 4. The result of such a scientific practice; the information gained by observing: as, to tabulate such an observant, slavish course? How could the most base men attain to honour but by observations.-5. Knowledge; experience. IMG:content-1589.png:[blocks in formation] =Syn. 1 and 3. Watchful, mindful, heedful, regardful. II. n. 11. An observer.-21. An obsequious or slavish attendant. These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainne Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends Than twenty silly ducking observants, That stretch their duties nicely. Shak . , Lear, ii. 2. 109. 3. One who is strict in observing or complying with a law, rule, custom, etc. Such obseruants they are thereof that our Sauiour himselfe did not teach to pray or wish for more than onely that heere it myght bee with vs as with them it is in heauen. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, i. 4. IMG:content-1590.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1591.png:[blocks in formation] We owe many valuable observations to people who are not very acute or profound, and who say the thing without effort which we want and have long been hunting in vain. Emerson, E ays, 1st ser., p. 253. 7. The fact of being seen or noticed; notice; remark: as, to escape observation; anxious to avoid observation.-8. Observance; careful attention to rule, custom, or precept, and performance of whatever is prescribed or required. [Obsolescent.] The Character of Eneas is filled with Piety to the Gods, and a superstitious Observation of Prodigies, Oracles, and Add is on, Spectator, No. 351. Predictions. 9. A rite; a ceremony; an observance. Now our observation is perform'd. Shak., M. N. D., iv. 1. 109. They had their magic all observations in gathering certaine hearbs. Purchas , Pilgrimage, p. 62. Such dupes are men to custom, and so prone To rev'rence what is ancient and can plead A course of long observance for its use. Cowper , Task, v. 301. Through all English history the cry has never been for new laws, but for the firmer establishment, the stricter observance, of the old laws. E. A. Freeman , Amer. Lects., p. 176. teenth century became separated from those -the Conventuals-following a milder rule. Observantine (ob-zėr'van-tin), n. and a. [ The archbishop went about the observation very awkwardly, as one not used to that kind, especially in the Lord's Supper. Bale , in R. W. Dixon's Hist. Church of Eng., xxi. ( mil it .), a force detached to watch the movements of another army, especially of a relieving army during the prosecution of a siege. Error of an observation. See error, 5.- Eye-and-ear observation. See eyel . - Latitude by observation. See lati tude.-Lunar observation. See lunar . To work an observation ( naut .), to determine the latitude or longitude by calculations based on the altitude or position of the sun or other heavenly body as observed and ascertained II. a. Of or pertaining to the Francis can by instrumental measurement. =Syn. Observance, Observa IMG:content-1592.png:[blocks in formation] Observant ist (ob-zėr' van-tist), n. [ tion. See observance. 3. Experiment, etc. See experience. -6. Note, Comment, etc. (see remark, n.), annotation.