observation

[Lat. observatio, from obser vatus, pa. par. of observo to observe (q. v.); Fr. observation, Sp. observacion; Ital. o ervazione.1 1. The act, habit, or faculty of observing, noting, or marking; the act of seeing or noting in the mind. "In my small observations of mankind."-Dryden: Virgil; Georgics. (Dedic.) marine; gō, pot, The American Dictionary and Cyclopedia IMG:content-0205.png:[blocks in formation] "Here reigns the Ru ian, there the Turk; observe His capital city!" Words worth. Excur ., bk. vii. 3. To detect, to discover. 4. To watch. 1. To note, to notice; to take notice. "Observe, he's moody." 1. One who observes; one who takes notice of persons or things; espec. one who makes observa- tions of natural phenomena for scientific or practi- cal purposes; an observant person. "There is a kind of character in thy life, That, to the observer , doth thy history Fully unfold. Shakesp.: Meas. for Meas., 1. 1. 2. One who looks on; a spectator, a beholder. "The observed of all observers." *4. An obsequious or sycophantic follower; a sycophant. "Servile observers and polluted tongues." Chapman: Bu y d' Ambois , iv. õb-serv-ing, pr . par ., a. & s. [OBSERVE.] A. As pr. par.: (See the verb.) B. As adj .: Observant, attentive, watchful. C. As subst.: The act of noting or noticing; obser vation. ob-serv-Ing-ly, adv . [Eng.observing; -ly.] In an observant manner; observantly, attentively. (Shakesp.: Henry V. , iv. 1.) ob-sig-nā-tion, s. [Lat. obsignatio , from obsig- nat us , pa. par. of obsigno =to seal up.] The act of sealing or ratifying; ratification. ing spirit." Bp. Taylor: Sermons, vol. ii., ser. 1. "It is called the spirit of obsignation , or the confirm- *ob-sig-na-tor-y, a. [Lat. obsign at us , pa. par. of obsigno .] Confirming, ratifying. ob'-so-lēte-ly, adv . [Eng. obsolete ; -ly .] Bot.: In an obsolete manner, scarcely; as, obso letely toothed=scarcely toothed. ob'-so-lēte-ne , s . [Eng. obsolete; -ne .] I. Ord. Lang.: The quality or state of being obso "See him guard their pregnant hour, Exert his soft obstetric power." Shenstone: Progre of Taste , iv. *õb-stět-ri-cāte, v . i . & t . [Lat. obstetric at us , pa. par. of obstetrico , from obstetrix (gen it. obstet- ricis ) = a midwife.] obstetrics