Flowering Plant of Obolft- 
n'a yirginica. 
a, a flower, showing the 
leaf-like calyx and the co- 
rolla. 
obol 
obol struck according to the Attic weight-standard weighed 
about 11J grains ; according to the yEginetic standard, 16. 1 ; 
Greco-Asiatic, 9 ; Rhodian, 10 ; Babylonic, 14 ; and Persic, 
14 grains. At a later period the coin was struck in bronze. 
For this service [the ferriage of Charon] each soul was 
required to pay an oboltis or danace, one of which coins 
was accordingly placed in the mouth of every corpse pre- 
vious to burial. Encyc. Brit,, V. 430. 
Obolaria (ob-o-la'ri-a), n. [NL. (Linnffius, 
1753), so called from the 
roundish upper stem- 
leaves; < Gr. b/}oUf, a 
Greek coin: see obol.] A 
genus of dicotyledonous 
gamopetalous plants of the 
order Gentianaceai and the 
tribe Swertieai, distinguish- 
ed from all the other gen- 
era of the order by having 
only two sepals. There is 
but one species, 0. Virginica, a 
low North American herb, very 
smooth, and purplish-green, with 
whitish flowers clustered at the 
top. Sometimes called penny- 
wart, in imitation of the genus- 
name. It is believed to be par- 
tially root-parasitic. 
obolary (ob'o-la-ri), a. [< 
obol + -an/ 2 .] Pertaining 
to or consisting of obols or 
small coins ; also, reduced 
to the possession of only 
the smallest coins ; hence, 
impecunious ; poor. 
He is the true taxerwho "call- 
eth all the world up to be taxed "; 
and the distance is as vast between him and one of us as 
subsisted between the Augustan Majesty and the poorest 
obolary Jew that paid it tribute-pittance at Jerusalem ! 
Lamb, Two Races of Men. 
obole (ob'61), . [< P. obole, < L. obolus: see 
obol, obolus.] 1. A small French coin of bil- 
lon (sometimes also of silver), in use from the 
tenth to the fifteenth century. At one period it 
also bore the name of mail. It was a coin of small value, 
less than the silver denier. 
2. Same as obol. 3. In phar., the weight of 
10 grains, or half a scruple. 
oboli, n. Plural of obolus. 
obolite (ob'o-lit), n. and a. [< NL. Obolus (see 
Obolus, 3) + -ite 2 .] I. n. A fossil brachiopod 
of the genus Obolus. 
II. a. Pertaining to obolites or containing 
them in great numbers : as, the obolite grit of 
the Lower Silurian. 
obolizet, i'. t. An obsolete variant of obelize. 
obolus (ob'o-lus), n.; pi. oboli (-Ii). [< L. obo- 
lus, (. Gr. 6/3oA6f , a small coin, a weight (see defs. 
1, 2) ; gen. associated with 6/3tvlof, a spit, as if 
orig. in the form of iron or copper nails, or as 
being orig. stamped with some such figure ; cf . 
the dim. oftMamf, one of the rough bronze or 
iron bars which served for money in JEgins,, 
etc., before coinage was introduced : see obelus, 
obelisk.'] 1. Same as obol. 2. A small silver 
coin current in the middle ages in Hungary, 
Poland, Bohemia, etc. 3. [cap.] [NL.] In 
zoiiL, a genus of brachiopods of the family 
Lingulidce, from the Silurian, having orbicular 
valves. Eichwald, 1829. 
Oboutt, adv. A Middle English form of about. 
oboval (ob-6'val), a. [< ob- + oval."] Same as 
obovate. Henslow. 
Obovate (ob-6'vat), a. [< ob- + ovate.'] In 
nat. hist., inversely ovate; hav- 
ing the broad end 'upward or to- 
ward the apex, as in many leaves. 
obpvate-clavate (ob-6'vat-kia'- 
vat), a. In ixit. hist., of a shape 
between obovate and clavate. 
obovate-cuneate (ob-6'vat-ku'- 
ne-at), a. In nat. hist., of a shape 
between obovate and cuneate or 
wedge-shaped. 
Obovately (ob-6'vat-li), adv. In an obovate 
manner. 
Obovate-oblong (ob-6'vat-ob'16ng), a. In nat. 
hist., of a shape between obovate and oblong. 
obovatifolious (ob-6"va-ti-fo'li-us), a. [< 060- 
vate + L. folium, leaf.] In bot., possessing or 
characterized by leaves inversely ovate. 
Obovoid (ob-6'void), a. [< ob- + ovoid.~\ In 
nat. liist., shaped like an egg with the narrow 
end forming the base ; solidly obovate. 
obraid (o-brad'), v. t. [A corrupt form of 
abraid or upbraid.'] To upbraid. Somerset. 
Now, thus accoutred and attended to, 
In Court and citie there 's no small adoe 
With this young stripling, that obraids the gods 
And thinkes 'twixt them and him there is no ods. 
Young OriMants Whirligig (1629). (Halliwett.) 
Obovate Leaf of 
Lonicera semper- 
vj'rens. 
4062 
obreption (ob-rep'shon), n. [= F. obreption = 
Sp. obrepcion = Pg. ofrepfSo = It. obrezione, < L. 
obreptio(n-), a creeping or stealing on, < obre- 
pere, creep on, creep up to, < ob, on, to, + re- 
pere, creep: see reptile .] 1. The act of creep- 
ing on with secrecy or by surprise. 
Sudden incursions and obreptions, sins of mere ignorance 
and inadvertency. Cudworth, Sermons, p. 81. 
2. In Scots law, the obtaining of gifts of es- 
cheat, etc., by falsehood: opposed to subrep- 
tion, in which such gifts are procured by con- 
cealing the truth. 
obreptitioust (ob-rep-tish'us), a. [= Sp. Pg. 
obrepticio, < LL. obreptitlus, prop, obreptidus, 
done in secrecy or by surprise, < L. obrepere, 
creep on : see obreption. Cf. arreptitwus^, sur- 
reptitious.'] Done or obtained by surprise or 
with secrecy, falsehood, or concealment of 
truth. E. Phillips, 1706. 
obrigget, obregget, . * Middle English forms 
of abridge. 
Obrogatet (ob'ro-gat), . t. [< L. obrogatus, 
pp. of obrogare, propose a new law in order to 
repeal or invalidate (an existing one), oppose 
the passage of (a law), < ob, before, over, + ro- 
gare, ask, propose : see rogation. Cf. abrogate, 
derogate.] To abrogate, as a law, by proclaim- 
ing another in its stead. Coles, 1717. 
obrotnnd (ob-ro-tund'), a. [< ob- + rotund."] 
In bot., approaching a round form. 
obruendariuni (ob"ro-en-da'ri-um), n. ; pi. ob- 
mendaria (-a). [< L. obruendus, gerundive of 
obruere, cover, cover over, hide in the ground : 
see dbrnte.~\ A vessel used to conceal another; 
specifically, the large pot of coarse earthenware 
often found containing a cinerary urn of glass 
or other delicate material. 
obrutet (ob'rot), v. t. [< L. obrutus, pp. of ob- 
'ruerc, throw down, overthrow, overwhelm, < ob, 
before, over, + ruere, fall : see ruin.] To over- 
throw. 
Verily, if ye seriously consider the misery wherewith ye 
were obruted and overwhelmed before, ye shall easily per- 
ceive that ye have an earnest cause to rejoice. 
Beam, Works, p. 57. (HalliweU.) 
obryzum (ob-ri'zum), n. [< LL. obryzum, also 
obrizum, neut., also obryza, fern., in full obry- 
zum aurum, pure gold ; cf . obrussa, the testing 
of gold by fire, a test, proof ; = Gr. 6/3pvfor>, in 
6/3pi>C<n> xpvaiov, pure gold.] Fine or pure gold; 
gold tested in the fire. 
Obryzum signifys gold of the most exalted purity and 
test. Evelyn, To Dr. Godolphin. 
obs. An abbreviation of obsolete. 
obs-and-SOls (obz'and-solz'), n. pi. See oft 2 . 
obscene (ob-sen'), "a. [= F. obscene = Sp. Pg. 
obsceno = It. osceno, < L. obscenus, obsemus, ob- 
scomus, of adverse omen, ill-omened, hence re- 
pulsive, offensive, esp. offensive to modesty, 
obscene; origin obscure.] 1. Inauspicious; ill- 
omened. 
A streaming blaze the silent shadows broke ; 
Shot from the skies a cheerful azure light ; 
The birds obscene to forests winged their flight ; 
And gaping graves received the wandering guilty sprite. 
Dryden, Hind and Panther, ii. 662. 
2. Offensive to the senses ; repulsive; disgust- 
ing; foul; filthy. 
O, fprfend it, God, 
That in a Christian climate souls refined 
Should show so heinous, black, obscene a deed. 
Shale., Kich. II., iv. 1. 181. 
A girdle foul with grease binds his obscene attire. 
Dryden, MneiA, vi. 417. 
The guilty serpents, and obscener beasts, 
Creep, conscious, to their secret rests. 
Cowley, Hymn to Light. 
Canals made to percolate obscene morasses. 
Motley, United Netherlands, 1. 153. 
3. Offensive to modesty and decency ; impure ; 
unchaste; indecent; lewd: as, obscene actions 
or language ; obscene pictures. 
Words that were once chaste by frequent use grow ob- 
scene and uncleanly. Watts, Logic, i. 4 3. 
If thy table be indeed unclean, 
Foul with excess, and with discourse obscene. 
Confer, Tirocinium, 1. 736. 
Obscene publication, in law, any impure or indecent 
publication tending to corrupt the mind and to subvert 
respect for decency and morality. = Syn. 3. Immodest, rib- 
ald, gross. 
obscenely (ob-sen'li), adv. In an obscene man- 
ner; in a manner offensive to modesty or pu- 
rity; indecently; lewdly. 
obsceneness (ob-sen'nes), .. Same as obscenity. 
Those fables were tempered with the Italian severity, 
and free from any note of infamy or obsceneness. Dryden. 
obscenity (ob-sen'i-ti), . [= F. obscenite" = Sp. 
obscenidad = Pg. dbscenidade = It. oscenita, < L. 
obscure 
obscenita(t-)s, obsccenita(t-)s, obsccemta(t-)s, un- 
favorableness (of an omen), moral impurity, 
obscenity, < obscenus, ill-omened, obscene : see 
obscene."] The state or character of being ob- 
scene; impurity or indecency in action, ex- 
pression, or representation ; licentiousness ; 
lewdness. 
No pardon vile obscenity should find. 
Pope, Essay on Criticism, 1. 580. 
obscenoust (pb-se'nus), a. [< L. obscenus, ob- 
scene: see obscene.] Indecent; obscene. 
Obscenous in recital!, and hurtfull in example. 
Sir J. Harington, Apology of Poetry, p. 10. (Nares.) 
obscenousnesst (ob-se'nus-nes), n. Obscenity. 
There is not a word of ribaldry or obsce.nmisness. 
Sir J. Harington, Apology of Poetry, p. 10. (Nares.) 
obscurant (pb-sku'rant), n. [< L. obscuran(t-)s, 
ppr. of obscurare, darken : see obscure, r.~] One 
who or that which obscures; specifically, one 
who labors to prevent inquiry, enlightenment, 
or reform ; an obscurantist. 
Foiled in this attempt, the obscurants of that venerable 
seminary resisted, only the more strenuously every effort 
at a reform. Sir W. Hamilton. 
obscurantism (ob-sku'ran-tizm), n. [= F. ob- 
seurantfeme; as obscurant + -ism.] Opposition to 
the advancement and diffusion of knowledge ; 
a tendency or desire to prevent inquiry or en- 
lightenment ; the principles or practices of ob- 
scurantists. 
The dangers with which what exists of Continental lib- 
erty is threatened, now by the ambitious dreams of Ger- 
man "nationality," now by Muscovite barbarism, and now 
by pontifical obscurantism. Marsh, Lects. on Eng. Lang.,i. 
obscurantist (ob-sku'ran-tist), a. and n. [< 06- 
scurant + -isi.] I. a. Of, pertaining to, or 
characteristic of obscurants or obscurantism. 
You working-men complain of the clergy for being big- 
oted and obscurantist, and hating the cause of the people. 
Kingsley, Alton Locke, xvii. (Davies.) 
II. n. One who opposes the cultivation and 
diffusion of knowledge ; an obscurant. 
They [a community in the Netherlands called the Breth- 
ren of the Common Life] could not support the glare of 
the new Italian learning ; they obtained, and it may be 
feared deserved, the title of obscurantists. 
Encyc. Brit., VII. 672. 
obscuration (ob-sku-ra'shon), n. [=F. obscu- 
ration = Sp. obscuracion = It. oscurazione, < L. 
obscuratio(n-), a darkening, < obscurare, dark- 
en: see obscure, v.~\ The act of obscuring or 
darkening; the state of being darkened or ob- 
scured ; the act or state of being made obscure 
or indistinct: as, the obscuration of the moon 
in an eclipse. 
Understanding hereby their cosmical descent, or their 
setting when the sun ariseth, and not their heliacal 06- 
scuration, or their inclusion, in the lustre of the sun. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., vi. 3. 
The mutual obscuration or displacement of ideas is 
wholly unaffected by the degree of contrast between them 
in content. Lotze, Microcosmus (trans.), I. 211. 
obscure (pb-skur'), a. and n. [< F. obscur = Sp. 
Pg. obscuro = It. oscuro, < L. obscurus, dark, 
dusky, shady ; of speech, indistinct, unintel- 
ligible; of persons, unknown, undistinguished; 
prob. < ob, over, + -scurus, covered, < J/SCM (Skt. 
V sku), cover, seen also in scutum, a shield: 
see scutum, sky."] I. a. 1. Dark; deprived of 
light; hence, murky; gloomy; dismal. 
Suspende hem so in colde hous, drie, obscure, 
Ther noo light in may breke, and thai beth sure. 
Palladius, Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 186. 
It were too gross 
To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. 
Shale., M. of V., ii. 7. 61. 
I shall gaze not on the deeds which make 
My mind obscure with sorrow. 
Shelley, Prometheus Unbound, iii. 2. 
2f. Living in darkness ; pertaining to darkness 
or night. [Bare.] 
The obscure bird 
Clamour'd the livelong night. 
Shak., Macbeth, ii. 3. 64. 
Oft on the bordering deep 
Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing 
Scout far and wide into the realms of night, 
Scorning surprise. Milton, P. L., ii. 132. 
3. Not capable of being clearly seen, on ac- 
count of deficient illumination. 
Spirits ... in what shape they choose, 
Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, 
Can execute their aery purpose. 
Milton, P. L., i. 429. 
Hence 4. In loqic, not clear, as an idea; not 
sharply distinguished from others. Thus, if a 
person knows that isabella color is a sort of light yellow, 
but could not recognize it with certainty, he would have 
an nbscitre idea of the meaning of that term. 
When we look at the colours of the rainbow, we have 
a clear idea of the red, the blue, the green, in the middle 
