observatlonally 
Of late, the motion* of the Voon have been very care- 
fillly invcHtiKiited, both theort'tlcally and iibsfrvatvnutlttf. 
/;',. Sri. Mn.. XXVI. 49. 
observation-car (ob-zer-va'shon-kar), n. A 
railroad-car with glass or open Hides to enable 
the occupants to observe the scenery, inspect 
Ilir truck, etc. (I". 8.] 
observative (ob-zer'va-tiv), a. [< observe + 
-itlin:~] Observing; attentive. [Rare.] 
I omitted tn observe those particulars . . . that It be- 
hoved an observative traveller. Coryat, Crudities, I. 28. 
observatort (ob'zer-va-tor), n. [= F. observa- 
trnr = Sp. Pg. observndor = It. osservatore, < 
L. obsenatnr, a watcher, tobgtrrarc, watch, ob- 
serve : see obnerre,] 1. One who observes or 
takes note ; an observer. 
r of the Bills of Mortality l>efore mention- 
ed [Dr. liakewllll hath given us the ljst account of the 
iMuiiiiri that late plagues hath swept away. 
Sir M Hale, Orlg. of Mankind, p. 213. 
2. One who makes a remark. 
She may be handsome, yet be chaste, you say ; 
Good ijisfrniiiir. not so fast away. 
Dryden, tr. of Juvenal's Satires, x. 502. 
observatory (ob-zer'va-to-ri), .; pi. observa- 
tories (-ri/.). '= F. observatoire = Sp. Pg. 06- 
servatorio = It. osservatorio, < NL. obsenatorium, 
< L. observare, observe: see observe."] 1. A 
place or building set apart for, and fitted with 
instruments for making, observations of natu- 
ral phenomena: as. an astronomical or a mete- 
orological observatory. An astronomical observatory 
Is so planned as to secure for the instruments the greatest 
possible stability and freedom from tremors, protection 
from the weather, and an unobstructed view, together 
with such arrangements as will otherwise facilitate ob- 
servations. 
2. A place of observation at such an altitude 
as to afford an extensive view, such as a look- 
out-station, a signaling-station, or a belvedere. 
- Magnetic observatory. See maynetic. 
observe (ob-zerv'), v. ; pret. and pip. observed, 
ppr. observing. [< F. observer = 8p. Pg. ob- 
servar = It. osservare, < L. obserrare, watch, note, 
mark, heed, guard, keep, pay attention to, re- 
gard, comply with, etc., < ob, before, + gervare, 
keep : see serve, and cf . conserve, preserve, re- 
serve.'} I. traits. 1. To regard with attention 
or careful scrutiny, as for the purpose of dis- 
covering and noting something; watch; take 
note of: as, to observe trifles with interest; to 
observe one's every movement. 
Remember that, as thine eye observe* others, so art thou 
observed by angels and by men. Jer. Taylor. 
Changing shape 
To nli.;-i; the sequel, saw his guileful act 
By Eve, though all unweetlng, seconded 
Upon her husband. Milton, P. L., x. 334. 
To observe is to look at a thing closely, to take careful 
note of its several parts or details. 
./. Hull .a. Outlines of Psychol., p. 208. 
Specifically 2. To subject to systematic in- 
spection and scrutiny for some scientific orprac- 
tioal purpose: as, to observe natural phenom- 
ena for the purpose of ascertaining their laws ; 
to observe meteorological indications for the 
purpose of forecasting the weather. See 06- 
servation, 3. 
Studying the motion of the sun in order to determine the 
length of the year, he observed the times of its passage 
through the equinoxes and solstices. 
Newcomb and Holden, Astron., p. 121. 
8. To see; perceive; notice; remark; hence, 
to detect; discover: as, we observed a stranger 
approaching; to observe one's uneasiness. 
Honourable action, 
Such as he hath observed In noble ladles. 
Shat., T. of the 8., Ind., L 1. 111. 
I observed an admirable abundance of Butterflies in many 
places of Savoy. Coryat, Crudities, I. 86. 
He had seen her once, a moment's space, 
Observed she was so young and beautiful. 
llriiirninif. Ring and Book, 1. 181. 
4. To notice and remark, or remark upon; re- 
fer to in words ; say ; mention : as, what did 
you observe f 
But it was pleasant to see Beeston come In with others, 
supposing it to be dark, and yet he Is forced to read his 
part by the light of the candles ; and this I observing to a 
gentleman that sat by me, he was mightily pleased there- 
with, and spread it up and down. Pepy*, Diary, IV. 94. 
But he observed in apology, that it [z] was a letter you 
never wanted hardly, and he thought it had only been put 
there "to finish off th' alphabet, like, though ampus-end 
(&) would ha' done as well, for what he could see." 
George Eliot, Adam Bede, I. S17. 
6t. To heed; regard; hence, to regard with 
respect and deference; treat with respectful 
attention or consideration ; humor. 
He wolde no swich cursednesse observe ; 
Kvel shal have that evel wol deserve. 
Chaucer, Prioress's Tale, 1. 179. 
4065 
Whom I make 
Must be my heir ; and this makes men observe me. 
R. Jonsan, Volpone, i. 1. 
Observe her with all sweetness; humour her. 
Fletcher, Humorous Lieutenant, lit 1. 
6. To adhere to and carry out in practice; con- 
form to or comply with; obey: as, to observe 
the regidations of society ; to observe the pro- 
prieties. 
How thaniiK he that observeth o synne, shal he have for- 
gifnesse of the reroenaunt of hlse othere synnes? 
Chaucer, Parson's Tale. 
I know not how he 's cured ; 
He ne'er observes any of our prescriptions. 
r,'-iiii. and Fl., Knight of Malta, ii. I. 
Observe your distance ; and be sure to stand 
Hard by the Cistern with your Cap in hand. 
Oldham, A Satyr Address'd to a Friend (ed. 1703). 
The enemies did not long observe those courtesies which 
men of their rank, even when opposed to each other at 
the head of armies, seldom neglect 
Mariiitlii.H, Hist. Eng., Til. 
7. To keep with due ceremonies ; celebrate : as, 
to observe a holiday; to observe the sabbath. 
Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. 
Ex. xiL 17. 
They eate mans flesh ; observe meales at noone and 
night. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 841. 
A score of Indian tribes . . . observed the rites of that 
bloody and horrible Paganism which formed their only re- 
ligion. R. Choate, Addresses, p. 16. 
= 8yn. 1. To eye, survey, scrutinize. 3. Notice, Behotif, 
etc. (see see). 7. Keep, etc. (see celebrate), regard, fulfil, 
conform to. 
H. intrang. 1. To be attentive ; take note. 
I come to observe; I give thee warning on 't. 
Shat.,T. of A., I. 2. 33. 
I do love 
To note and to observe. 
B. Jonton, Volpone, Ii. 1. 
2. To remark ; comment : generally with upon 
or on. 
We have, however, already observed upon a great draw- 
back which attends such benefits. Brougham. 
observer (ob-zer'ver), n. 1. One who observes 
or takes notice; a spectator or looker-on: as, 
a keen observer. 
He to a great observer, and he looks 
Quite through the deeds of men. 
Shot., J. C., I. 2. 202. 
But Churchill himself was no superficial observer. He 
knew exactly what his interest really was. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii, 
2. One who is engaged in habitual or sys- 
tematic observation, as for scientific purposes ; 
especially, one who is trained to make certain 
special observations with accuracy and under 
proper precautions: as, an astronomical <il>- 
servcr; a corps of observers. 
An observer at any point of the earth, by noting the local 
time at his station when the moon has any given right 
ascension, can thence determine the corresponding mo- 
ment of Greenwich time. 
tiewxomb and Holden, Astron., p. 37. 
Fueling, ... a great observer of the nature of devils, 
holds they are corporeal, and have aerial bodies ; that they 
are mortal, live, and dye. Burton, Anat. of Mel., 1. 1 2. 
3. One who observes or keeps any law, custom, 
regulation, or rite ; one who practises, performs, 
or fulfils anything: as, a careful observer of the 
proprieties; an observer of the sabbath. 
It is the manner of all barbarous nations to be very su- 
perstitious, and diligent observerrbt old customes. 
Spenser, State of Ireland. 
Himself often read useful discourses to his servants on 
the Lord's day, of which he was always a very strict and 
solemn observer. Bp. Atterbiiry. 
He [Lord Dorset] was so strict an Observer of his Word 
that no Consideration whatever could make him break it. 
Prior, Poems, Ded. 
4f. One who watches with a view to serve; 
an obsequious attendant or admirer; hence, a 
toady ; a sycophant. 
He waa a follower of Gennanlcus, 
And still is an observer of his wife 
And children, though they be declined in grace. 
/;. Jonson, Sejanus, iv. 3. 
Love younelf, sir ; 
And, when I want observers, I'll send for you. 
Fletcher, Wlldgoose Chase, ii. 2. 
observicert (ob-zer'vi-ser), n. [Irreg. < obser- 
vance (confused with service) + -eri.] A ser- 
vant; an observer (in sense 4). [Rare.] 
I am your humble obserricer, and wish you all cumula- 
tions of prosperity. Shirley, Love Tricks, ill. 5. 
observing (pb-zer'ving), p. a. [Ppr. of observe, 
f.] Watchful; observant; attentive. 
Jack knew his friend, but hop'd in that disguise 
He might escape the most observing eyes. 
Covper, Retirement, 1. 688. 
observingly (gb-zer'ving-li), adv. In an ob- 
serving or attentive manner ; attentively; care- 
fully. 
obsignation 
There Is some soul of goodness In things evil, 
Would men obterrinyty distil It out. 
Shot., Hen. V., Iv. 1. S. 
obsess (ob-ses'), '. [< L- obsessus, pp. of 
obsidere, sit on or in, remain, sit down before, 
besiege, < ob, before, -I- sedere, sit: see sit, ses- 
sion, etc. Ct. assess, possess.] It. To besiege; 
beset; compass about. 
It is to be feared that where malestle approcheth to ex- 
cesse, and the mynde Is obsessed with Inordinate glorle, lest 
pride . . . shuld sodalnely entre. 
Sir T. Elyot, The Govemonr, Ii . 
2. To attack, vex, or plague from without, as an 
evil spirit, bee obsession, 2. 
The familiar spirit may be a human ghost or some other 
demon, and may either be supposed to enter the man's 
body or only to come into his presence, which Is some- 
what the same difference as whether In disease the demon 
"possesses" or obsesses a patient, I. e. controls him from 
Inside or outside. Kncyc. Brit,, VII. 68. 
obsession (ob-sesh'ou), . [= F. obsession = 
8p. obsesion = Pg. obscssSo = It. ossessione, < 
L. obscssio(n-), a besieging, < obsidere, besiege: 
see"o6e.] 1. The act of besieging; persis- 
tent assault. 
When the assassination of Henry IV. gave full rein to 
the Ultramontane party at court, the obsessions of Duper- 
ron became more importunate, and even menacing. 
Kncyc. Brit., V. 178. 
2. Continuous or persevering effort supposed 
to be made by an evil spirit to obtain mastery 
of a person ; the state or condition of a person 
so vexed or beset : distinguished from posses- 
sion, or control by a demon from within. 
Grave fathers, he 's possest ; again, I say, 
Possest : nay, if there be possession and 
Obsession, he has both. B. Jonson, Volpone, v. 8. 
Obsession of the Devil is distinguished from Possession 
in this : In Possession, the Evil One was said to enter into 
the Body of the Man ; in Obsession without entering into 
the Body of the Person, be was thought to besiege and 
torment him without. 
Bourne's Pop. Antiq. (1777^ p. 142, note. 
obsidian (ob-sid'i-an), n. [= F. obsidiane, ob- 
sidienne = Sp. Pg. obsidiann, < L. obsidiana, a 
false reading for obsiana, a mineral supposed 
to be obsidian/ Obsidiaiiux, a false reading for 
Obsianus, < Obsius, erroneously Obsidius, the 
name of a man who, according to Pliny, found 
it in "Ethiopia."] A volcanic rock, in a vitre- 
ous condition, and closely resembling ordinary 
bottle-glass in appearance and texture, obsid- 
ian usually contains about 70 per cent of silica, and is the 
vitreous form of a trachyte or rock consisting largely of 
sanidlne. It is of various colors, black, brown, and gray- 
ish green being the most common. Obsidian often occurs 
in a coarsely cellular form, and passes into pumice. See 
cut under conchoidal. 
In consequence of its [obsidian's) having been often 
imitated in black glass, there arose among collectors of 
gems in the last century the curious practice of calling 
all antique pastes obridiaiw." Encyc. Brit., XVII. 717. 
obsidional (ob-sid'i-o-nal), a. [= F. Sp. Pg. 
obsidional = It. ossiiiioiiale, < L. obsidionalis, 
belonging to a siege, < obsidio(n-), a siege, < 
obsidere, besiege: see obsess.] Pertaining to 
a siege.-Obsidional coins. See comi.-Obsidional 
crown. See eroirn. 
obsidionary (ob-sid'i-o-na-ri), a. [< L. as if 
"obsidionarius, < obgidto(n-), a siege: see 06- 
sidional.] Obsidional; coined or struck in a 
besieged place. 
These obsidiotiary Ormand coins may be called scarce ; 
the only rare and probably unique piece is the penny. 
ff. and Q., 6th ser., XI. 94. 
obsidioust (ob-sid'i-us), a. [< L. as if "obsidi- 
osus, < obsidiiim, a siege: see obsidional.] Be- 
setting ; assailing from without. 
Safe from all obtidious or Insidious oppugnatlons, from 
the reach of fraud or violence. 
Rev. T. Adams, Works, I. 261. (Davits.) 
obsigillationt (ob-sij-i-la'shon), n. [< L. ob, be- 
fore, + LL. sigillare, seal : see seaft, r.] The 
act of sealing up. Maunder. 
obsignt (ob-sln'), v. t. [< L. obsignare, seal up, 
< ob, before, + siynare, mark, seal : see sign, r.] 
To seal, or ratify by sealing; obsignate. 
The sacrament of His Body and Blood, whereby He doth 
represent, and unto our faith give and obsign unto us Him- 
self wholly, with all the merits and glory of His Body and 
Blood. J. Bradford, Letter on the Slasa, Sept. 2, 1554. 
Obsignatet (ob-sig'uat), p. t. [< L. obsignatug, 
pp. of obmgnare, seal up : see obsign.] To seal; 
ratify; confirm. 
As circumcision was a seal of the covenant made with 
Abraham and his posterity, so keeping the sabbath did 
obtiynate the covenant made with the children of Israel 
after their delivery out of Egypt. 
Barrow, Expos, of Decalogue. 
obsignationt (ob-sig-na'shon), . [< LL. obsig- 
natio(n-), a sealing up, < L. obsignare, seal up : 
