• Observe

    Pronunciation

    • Canada IPA: /ʌʔbˈzɝv/
    • UK IPA: /É’bˈzɜː(ɹ)v/, /É™bˈzɜː(ɹ)v/

    Origin

    From French observer, from Latin observare ("to watch, note, mark, heed, guard, keep, pay attention to, regard, comply with, etc."), from ob ("before") + servare ("to keep"), from Proto-Indo-European *serw- ("to guard"). Cognate with Gothic (sarwa, "weapons, armour"), Old English searu ("device, design, contrivance, art, cunning, craft, artifice, wile, deceit, stratagem, ambush, treachery, plot, trick, snare, ambuscade, cleverness, machine, engine, fabric, armor, equipment, arms").

    Full definition of observe

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.
      From this vantage point we can observe the behavior of the animals in their natural habitat.
      • 1892, Arthur Conan Doyle, “One horse?” interjected Holmes. ¶ “Yes, only one.” ¶ “Did you observe the colour?”
      • 2013-03, Frank Fish, George Lauder, Not Just Going with the Flow, An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.
    2. (transitive) To follow or obey the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).
      Please observe all posted speed limits.
      • Bible, ExodusYe shall observe the feast of unleavened bread.
      • 2011, November 10, Jeremy Wilson, England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report, A sell-out crowd of 10,000 then observed perfectly a period of silence before the team revealed their black armbands, complete with stitched-in poppies, for the match. After Fifa’s about-turn, it must have been a frantic few days for the England kit manufacturer. The on-field challenge was altogether more straightforward.
    3. (intransitive) To comment on something; to make an observation.
      The senator observed that the bill would be detrimental to his constituents.
      • 1907, Robert Chambers, The Younger Set Chapter 8, “I never understood it,” she observed, lightly scornful. “What occult meaning has a sun-dial for a spooney ? I’m sure I don't want to read riddles into a strange gentleman’s optics.”

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Anagrams

    © Wiktionary
    • © 2013 - 2023 All Rights Reserved