Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter O - Page 4

Obscurantist (n.) Same as Obscurant.

Obscuration (v. t.) The act or operation of obscuring; the state of being obscured; as, the obscuration of the moon in an eclipse.

Obscure (superl.) Covered over, shaded, or darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim.

Obscure (superl.) Of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired; remote from observation; unnoticed.

Obscure (superl.) Not noticeable; humble; mean.

Obscure (superl.) Not easily understood; not clear or legible; abstruse or blind; as, an obscure passage or inscription.

Obscure (superl.) Not clear, full, or distinct; clouded; imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects.

Obscured (imp. & p. p.) of Obscure

Obscuring (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Obscure

Obscure (a.) To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to keep in the dark; to hide; to make less visible, intelligible, legible, glorious, beautiful, or illustrious.

Obscure (v. i.) To conceal one's self; to hide; to keep dark.

Obscure (n.) Obscurity.

Obscurely (adv.) In an obscure manner.

Obscurement (n.) The act of obscuring, or the state of being obscured; obscuration.

Obscureness (n.) Obscurity.

Obscurer (n.) One who, or that which, obscures.

Obscurity (n.) The quality or state of being obscure; darkness; privacy; inconspicuousness; unintelligibleness; uncertainty.

Obsecrated (imp. & p. p.) of Obsecrate

Obsecrating (p. pr. & vb, n.) of Obsecrate

Obsecrate (v. t.) To beseech; to supplicate; to implore.

Obsecration (n.) The act of obsecrating or imploring; as, the obsecrations of the Litany, being those clauses beginning with "By."

Obsecration (n.) A figure of speech in which the orator implores the assistance of God or man.

Obsecratory (a.) Expressing, or used in, entreaty; supplicatory.

Obsequent (a.) Obedient; submissive; obsequious.

Obsequience (n.) Obsequiousness.

Obsequies (n.pl.) See Obsequy.

Obsequious (a.) Promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another; devoted.

Obsequious (a.) Servilely or meanly attentive; compliant to excess; cringing; fawning; as, obsequious flatterer, parasite.

Obsequious (a.) Of or pertaining to obsequies; funereal.

Obsequiously (adv.) In an obsequious manner; compliantly; fawningly.

Obsequiously (adv.) In a manner appropriate to obsequies.

Obsequiousness (n.) The quality or state of being obsequious.

Obsequies (pl. ) of Obsequy

Obsequy (n.) The last duty or service to a person, rendered after his death; hence, a rite or ceremony pertaining to burial; -- now used only in the plural.

Obsequy (n.) Obsequiousness.

Observable (a.) Worthy or capable of being observed; discernible; noticeable; remarkable.

Observance (n.) The act or practice of observing or noticing with attention; a heeding or keeping with care; performance; -- usually with a sense of strictness and fidelity; as, the observance of the Sabbath is general; the strict observance of duties.

Observance (n.) An act, ceremony, or rite, as of worship or respect; especially, a customary act or service of attention; a form; a practice; a rite; a custom.

Observance (n.) Servile attention; sycophancy.

Observancy (n.) Observance.

Observanda (pl. ) of Observandum

Observandum (n.) A thing to be observed.

Observant (a.) Taking notice; viewing or noticing attentively; watchful; attentive; as, an observant spectator; observant habits.

Observant (a.) Submissively attentive; obediently watchful; regardful; mindful; obedient (to); -- with of, as, to be observant of rules.

Observant (n.) One who observes forms and rules.

Observant (n.) A sycophantic servant.

Observant (n.) An Observantine.

Observantine (n.) One of a branch of the Order of Franciscans, who profess to adhere more strictly than the Conventuals to the intention of the founder, especially as to poverty; -- called also Observants.

Observantly (adv.) In an observant manner.

Observation (n.) The act or the faculty of observing or taking notice; the act of seeing, or of fixing the mind upon, anything.

Observation (n.) The result of an act, or of acts, of observing; view; reflection; conclusion; judgment.

Observation (n.) Hence: An expression of an opinion or judgment upon what one has observed; a remark.

Observation (n.) Performance of what is prescribed; adherence in practice; observance.

Observation (n.) The act of recognizing and noting some fact or occurrence in nature, as an aurora, a corona, or the structure of an animal.

Observation (n.) Specifically, the act of measuring, with suitable instruments, some magnitude, as the time of an occultation, with a clock; the right ascension of a star, with a transit instrument and clock; the sun's altitude, or the distance of the moon from a star, with a sextant; the temperature, with a thermometer, etc.

Observation (n.) The information so acquired.

Observational (a.) Of a pertaining to observation; consisting of, or containing, observations.

Observative (a.) Observing; watchful.

Observator (n.) One who observes or takes notice.

Observator (n.) One who makes a remark.

Observatories (pl. ) of Observatory

Observatory (n.) A place or building for making observations on the heavenly bodies.

Observatory (n.) A building fitted with instruments for making systematic observations of any particular class or series of natural phenomena.

Observatory (n.) A place, as an elevated chamber, from which a view may be observed or commanded.

Observatory (n.) A lookout on a flank of a battery whence an officer can note the range and effect of the fire.

Observed (imp. & p. p.) of Observe

Observing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Observe

Observe (v. t.) To take notice of by appropriate conduct; to conform one's action or practice to; to keep; to heed; to obey; to comply with; as, to observe rules or commands; to observe civility.

Observe (v. t.) To be on the watch respecting; to pay attention to; to notice with care; to see; to perceive; to discover; as, to observe an eclipse; to observe the color or fashion of a dress; to observe the movements of an army.

Observe (v. t.) To express as what has been noticed; to utter as a remark; to say in a casual or incidental way; to remark.

Observe (v. i.) To take notice; to give attention to what one sees or hears; to attend.

Observe (v. i.) To make a remark; to comment; -- generally with on or upon.

Observer (n.) One who observes, or pays attention to, anything; especially, one engaged in, or trained to habits of, close and exact observation; as, an astronomical observer.

Observer (n.) One who keeps any law, custom, regulation, rite, etc.; one who conforms to anything in practice.

Observer (n.) One who fulfills or performs; as, an observer of his promises.

Observer (n.) A sycophantic follower.

Observership (n.) The office or work of an observer.

Observing (a.) Giving particular attention; habitually attentive to what passes; as, an observing person; an observing mind.

Obsess (v. t.) To besiege; to beset.

Obsession (n.) The act of besieging.

Obsession (n.) The state of being besieged; -- used specifically of a person beset by a spirit from without.

Obsidian (n.) A kind of glass produced by volcanoes. It is usually of a black color, and opaque, except in thin splinters.

Obsidional (a.) Of or pertaining to a siege.

Obsigillation (n.) A sealing up.

Obsign (v. t.) To seal; to confirm, as by a seal or stamp.

Obsignate (v. t.) To seal; to ratify.

Obsignation (n.) The act of sealing or ratifying; the state of being sealed or confirmed; confirmation, as by the Holy Spirit.

Obsignatory (a.) Ratifying; confirming by sealing.

Obsolesce (v. i.) To become obsolescent.

Obsolescence (n.) The state of becoming obsolete.

Obsolescent (a.) Going out of use; becoming obsolete; passing into desuetude.

Obsolete (a.) No longer in use; gone into disuse; disused; neglected; as, an obsolete word; an obsolete statute; -- applied chiefly to words, writings, or observances.

Obsolete (a.) Not very distinct; obscure; rudimental; imperfectly developed; abortive.

Obsolete (v. i.) To become obsolete; to go out of use.

Obsoletely (adv.) In an obsolete manner.

Obsoleteness (n.) The state of being obsolete, or no longer used; a state of desuetude.

Obsoleteness (n.) Indistinctness; want of development.

Obsoletism (n.) A disused word or phrase; an archaism.

Obstacle (v.) That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction, physical or moral.

Obstancy (n.) Opposition; impediment; obstruction.

[previous page] [Index] [next page]