' p. -r.latc I. eartefc. 
of Yellow Wood'sor- 
nl(OxaJlS earnifMla- 
obconical 
obconical (ob-kon'i-kal), a. [< ohronic + -til.] 
Sanir 1 as oltcmnf. 
obcordate (ob-k&r'dat), n. [< '<- + cordate.] 
In nut. liixt,, inversely heart- 
shaped ; cordate, but with t lie 
broader end, with itH strong 
notch, at the apex instead of 
the base. 
obcordiform (ob-kAr'di-f6nn), 
ii. [< olicord(ntr) + I.. forma. 
form.] Obcordate in form and 
position: said of leaves, etc. 
obdeltoid (ob-del'toid), . [< 
<>b- + deltoid.] lu lint, liixt., 
inversely deltoid; triangular 
with the pex downward, 
obdiplostemonous (ob-dip-lo-ste'ino-uus), a. 
[< ob- + tKploHtrnioHouK.] In hot., exhibiting 
or affected by obdiplosteiuony. 
obdiplostemony (ob-dip-16-ste'mo-ni), . [< ob- 
+ diploKtrnumy.] The condition in a flower 
with twice as many stamens as sepals or petals 
whereby the oute'r whorl of stamens is anti- 
petalous and the inner whorl antisepalous: 
opposed to di/>lo.itciiiony. 
In at least most of the genera an d orders where oMt- 
ploxtpiiionif has been noticed In the completely developed 
flower, it is simply due to the petaline whorl of filaments 
being, so to say, thrust outside the level of the calyeine 
whorl by the protruding buttress like bases of the carpels, 
as In Geranium pruten*e. 
Henslow, Origin of Floral Structures, p. 18. 
obdormition (ob-dor-mish'ou), n. [< L. ob- 
dormire, fall asleep, < 06, toward, to, + dormire, 
sleep: see dorm.] If. Sleep; the state or con- 
dition of being asleep. [Kare.] 
A peaceful obdormition lu thy bed of ease and honour. 
/.'/' """. Contemplations, i\ . 
2. The state or condition of numbness of a part 
due to pressure on a nerve: as, the obdormition 
of a limb. 
obduce (ob-dus'), '; pret. and pp. obduced, 
ppr. obduciug. [< L. obducere, lead or draw 
before or on or over, < oh, before, on, over, + 
ducere, lead, draw : see duct.'] To draw over, 
as a covering. 
Covered with feathers, or hair, or a cortex that is ob- 
-hn-i'il over the cutis, as in elephants and some sort of In- 
dian dogs. Sir M. Hale, Orlg. of Mankind, p. 66. 
obduct (ob-dukf), v- t. [< L. obductux, pp. of 
obdueere, lead or draw before or on or over: 
see obduce.} To draw over; cover; obduce. 
Men are left-handed when the liver Ison the right side, 
yet so abducted and covered with thick skins that it can- 
not diffuse its vertue to the right. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., iv. 5. 
obduction(ob-duk'shon), . [< L. obductio(ii-), 
a covering, enveloping, < obducere, lead or draw 
before or on or over, envelop: see obduce, ob- 
duct.] The act of drawing over, as a covering. 
Cockeram. 
obduracy (ob'du-ra-si or ob-du'ra-si), . [< ob- 
dura(te) + -ci/.] the state or quality of being 
obdurate ; especially, the state of being harden- 
ed against moral influences ; extreme nardness 
of heart ; rebellious persistence in wickedness. 
By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the devil's book 
as thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., ii. 2. 60. 
Otnluracy takes place ; callous and tough, 
The reprobated race grows judgment-proof. 
Camper, Table-Talk, I. 468. 
Hod may by almighty grace hinder the absolute comple- 
tion of sin in final obduracy. South. 
=Syn. See obdurate. 
obdurate (ob'du-rat), r. t. ; pret. and pp. obdu- 
ruti-d, ppr. obdiirntiiig. [< L. obduratus, pp. of 
obdurare (>Pg. oMurur), harden, become nard- 
ened: see obdure.] To harden; confirm in re- 
sistance; make obdurate. 
Obdurated to the height of boldness. 
Dr. H. More, Mystery of Godliness, p. 38. 
But [force] greatly obdurate* also the unreasonable. 
I': m>. To Lord Arlington. 
obdurate (ob'du-rat or ob-du'rat), a. [= It. ob- 
ili/rato, (. L. obduratus, pp., hardened: see the 
verb.] 1. Hardened, especially against moral 
influences; wickedly resisting. 
With minds obdurate nothing prevaileth. 
Hooker, Eccles. Polity, v. 22. 
The allowance of such a favour [a miracle] to them [the 
had] would serve only to render them more obdurate and 
more inexcusable ; it would enhance their guilt, and in- 
crease their condemnation. Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, I. \ii. 
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart, 
It does not feel for man. Ctncper, Task, ii. 8. 
Custom maketh blind and obdurate 
The loftiest hearts. 
Shelley, Revolt of Islam, Iv. 9. 
255 
4053 
2. Hard-hearted; inexorable; unyielding; stub- 
born. 
Women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible-, 
Thou stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorselesa. 
SAa*., 3 Hen. VI., i. 4. U-J. 
The earth, rMurate to the tears of Heaven, 
Lets nothing shoot but poison 'd weeds. 
/7. <<-her, Sea Voyage. I. :i. 
Long did he strive the obdurate foe to gain 
By proffered grace. AdiliMnt, The ("HinjHtign. 
Why the fair was obdurate 
None knows to be sure, it 
Was -ml she was setting her cap at the Curate. 
Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. !'. 
3. Indexible; stiff; harsh. [Rare.] 
They Joined the most obdurate consonants without one 
intervening vowel. Sir(ft. 
The rest ... sat on well-tauifd hides, 
Obdurate and unyielding, glassy smooth, 
With here and there a tuft of crimson yarn, 
i >i- scarlet crewel, in the cushion flx'd. 
Covper, Task, I. M. 
= Syn. 1. Obdurate, CaUout, Hardened. These words 
all retain the original meaning of physical hardening, al- 
though It is obsolescent with obdurate. In the moral slg 
iiiltcation, the figure is most felt in the use of eaU/iu*. 
which indicates sensibilities to right and wrong deadened 
by hard treatment, like caUma flesh. Hardened, Is less 
definite, it being not always clear whether the person is 
viewed as made hard by circumstances or as having hard- 
ened himself against better influences and proper claims. 
Obdurate Is the strongest, and Implies most of determi- 
nation and active resistance. See obstinate. 
Yet he's ungrateful and obdurate still ; 
Fool that I am to place my heart so 111 ! 
Dryden, tr. of Ovid's Epistles, vii. 29. 
The only uneasiness I felt was for my family, who were 
to be humble, without an education to render them cattou* 
to contempt. Goldsmith, Vicar, Hi. 
They, harden'd more by wht might most reclaim, 
Grieving to see his glory, at the sight 
Took envy. Milton, P. I.., Ti. 791. 
2. Unbending, unsusceptible, insensible. 
obdurately (ob'du-rat-li), adv. In an obdu- 
rate manner; stub'bornly; inflexibly; with ob- 
stinate impenitence. 
obdurateness (ob'du-rat-nes), . Obduracy; 
stubbornness; inflexible persistence in sin. 
This reason of his was grounded upon the obdurateness 
of men's hearts, which would think that nothing con- 
cerned them but what was framed against the Individual 
offender. Hammond, Works, IV. 887. 
obduration (ob-du-ra'shon), n. [< OF. obdura- 
tion = 8p. obduracion = Pg. oMura^ilo = It. 06- 
durazione, < LL. obduratio(n-), a hardening, < 
L. obdurare, harden: see obdurate.'} Obdu- 
racy; defiant impenitence. 
Final obduration therefore Is an argument of eternal re- 
lection, because none continue hardened to the last end 
but lost children. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, v., App. 1. 
To what an height of obduration will sinne lead a man, 
and, of all sins, incredulity ! Bp. Hall, Plagues of Egypt. 
These (sins) carry Cain's mark upon them, or Judas's 
sting, or Manasses's sorrow, unless they be made impu- 
dent by the spirit of obduration. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 158. 
obduret (ob-dur'), r. ; pret. and pp. obdured, 
ppr. obduring. [< L. obdurare, harden, be- 
come hard, v ob, to, + durare, harden: see 
dure, v. Cf. obdurate.] I. trans. To harden; 
make obdurate. 
What shall we say then to those obdured hearts which 
are no whit affected with public evils? 
lip. Hall, Sermons, Pa. Ix. 
This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured. 
Milton, P. L., vi. 785. 
II. intranif. To become hard or hardened. 
Senceless of good, as stones they soone obdure. 
Heywood, Troia Brltannica (1609). (Hare*. ) 
obduret (ob-dur'), [Irreg. for obdurate, after 
dure, a.] Obdurate; hard; inexorable. 
If the general's heart be so obdure 
To an old begging soldier. Webster. 
obduredness (ob-durd'nes), . (X obdured, pp. 
of obdnrt, i'., + -<'A',v.] Hardened condition; 
obduracy; hardness. [Rare.] 
If we be less worthy than thy first messengers, yet what 
excuse is this to the besotted world, that through obdured- 
nesge and infidelity it will needs perish? 
Bp. Halt, Sermon, Acts Ii. 37-40. 
obea, obeah (6'be-a), . See oWi. 
No priest of salvation visited him [the negro] with glad 
tidings; but he went down to death with dusky dreams 
of African shadow-catchers and Obeatt* hunting mm. 
Emertmn. West Indian Emancipation. 
obediblet (o-be'di-bl), a. [< ML. as if *obedi- 
ftiVis, < L. obcedire, obey: see obedient, obey.] 
Obedient; yielding. 
They [spirits] may be made most sensible of paiue, and 
by Uie obedible submission of their created nature wrought 
upon immediately by their appointed tortures. 
Bp. Hall, Christ among the Gergesenes. 
obedience (o-be'di-eus), M. [< ME. obtdi' nrr. 
< OF. obedience, F. ohrdii'iir-f = Sp. Pg. obedi- 
obedient 
mriii = It. nbbrilii-ii-n, nlihulii .-, < I,, nlniili- 
i-iitin, iilinlinilid, cilii'ilirncc, < iilnrdii->i (I-)*, obr- 
iluii(t-)x. iilirdii-nt : si-i- nhiiliinl.} 1. The act. 
or habit of obeying; dutiful compliance with a 
command, prohibition, or known law and rule 
prescribed; submission to authority: as, to re- 
duce a refractory person to ulu-iln - . 
If you look for 
favour* from me, deserve them with obedience. 
Beau, and Fl., Little Fraiuli Lawyer, L S. 
That thou art happy, owe to Cod; 
i h.it Hi'. n continuest such, owe to thyself 
That U, to thy obedience. Milton, P. L., v. 5*2. 
cooperation can at first be effective only when there If 
obedience to peremptory command. 
H. Speiuxr, Prin. of Soclol., I 440. 
When men have learnt to reverence * life of passive, 
unreasoning obedience as the highest type of perfection, 
the enthusiasm and pamtionof freedom necessarily decline. 
Lecky, Europ. Morals, II. 198. 
2. Words or action expressive of reverence or 
dutifulness; obeisance. 
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience, 
As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness. 
fUmlc., Hen. VIII., II. 8. 71. 
I will clear their senses dark, 
What may suffice, and soften stony hearts 
To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. 
Milton, P. L., III. 190. 
3. A collective body of those who adhere to 
some particular authority: as, the king's obedi- 
ence; specifically, the collective body of those 
who adhere or yield obedience to an ecclesiasti- 
cal authority: as, the Roman obedience, or the 
churches of the Roman obedience (that is, the 
aggregate of persons or of national churches 
acknowledging the authority of the Pope). 
The Armenian Church . . . was so far schismatic as not 
to be integrally a portion of either Roman or Byiantlne 
obedience, and so little heretical that its alliance was court- 
ed by both communions. 
Stubbf, Medieval and Modern Hist , p. 160. 
The moral condition of both the clergy and the laity of 
the Roman obedience is far better now than it was four 
hundred years ago. The Century, XXVII. 620. 
4. Kecks.: (a) A written precept or other formal 
instrument by which a superior in a religious 
order communicates to one of his dependents 
any special admonition or instruction. [Rare.] 
(6) In Roman Catholic monasteries, any ecclesi- 
astical and official position, with the estate and 
profits belonging to it, which is subordinate to 
the abbot's jurisdiction. [Rare.] Canonical 
obedience. See canonical. Oath of conformity and 
obedience. See oath. Passive obedience, unqualified 
obedience or submission to authority, whether the com- 
mands be reasonable or unreasonable, lawful or unlawful. 
Passive obedience and non-resistance to the powers that 
be have sometimes been taught as a political doctrine. 
Syn, 1. Obedience, Compliance, Submission, Obsequious- 
ness. Obedience always implies something to be done, and 
Is rarely used except in a good sense. Compliance and 
submission may be outward or inward acts, and may be 
good or had. Obsequiousness is now always a fawning or 
servile compliance. Obedience implies proper authority; 
submission implies authority of some sort: compliance 
may be in response to a request or hint ; obsequiinimrs* 
may be toward any one from whom favors are hoped for. 
The obedience of a free people to general laws, however 
hard they bear, is ever more perfect than that of slaves to 
the arbitrary will of a prince. A. Hamilton, Works, 1. 168. 
By this compliance thou wilt win the lords 
To favour, and perhaps to set thee free. 
Milton, S. A., L 1411. 
God will relent, and quit thee all bis debt ; 
Who ever more approves, and more accepts^ 
Best pleased with humble and filial mbmisaun. 
Milton, S. A.. 1. 511. 
Vlgillus replied that he had always reverently cherished 
the Governor, and had endeavored to merit his favor by 
diligent obsequiousness. Motley, Dutch Republic, II. 831. 
obediencert, [ME., < OF. obediencrr, < ML. 
obeditntiarius, < L. obcedientia, obedientia, obedi- 
ence: see obedience.] A certain officer in a 
monastery. 
Ac it si-met b nouht parfytnesse in cytees for to begge, 
Bole he be nbediencer to pryour other to mynstre. 
Piers Plmrman (I'X vi. 91. 
obedienciaryt (6-be-di-en'shi-a-ri), n. [< ML. 
obedieiitiariui. < L. obcedientia, obedientia, obedi- 
ence: see obedient. Cf. obediencer.] One who 
obeys. 
The See of Rome tooke great indignation against the said 
Albigenses, and caused all their faithful! Catholickes and 
obedientiaries to their church to rise vp in armour, and 
take the sign of the holy crosse vpon them, to fight against 
them. Foze, Martyrs, an. 1206, p. 870. 
obedient (o-be'di-ent), a. [< ME. obedient, < 
OF. obedieii t = Sp. Pg. obedien te = It. obbedien te, 
< L. olHfdien(t-)g, obedient, t-)*. obedient, obey- 
ing, ppr. of oboedirc, obedire, obey : see obey. ( 'f . 
iihrisimt.] 1. Obeying or willing to obey; sub- 
missive to authority, control, or constraint: 
dutiful; compliant. 
