obsignation 
eeeobsignate,obsign.] The act of sealing; rati- 
fication by sealing ; confirmation. 
This is a sacrament, and not a sacrifice : for in this, using 
it as we should, we receive of God obsignationznA full cer- 
tificate of Christ's body broken for our sins, and his blood 
shed for our iniquities. 
J. Bradford, Works (Parker Soc., 1853), II. 289. 
obsignatoryt (ob-sig'na-to-ri), a. [< L. as if 
*olwig>uttoritt8, < obsignare, seal up: see obsig- 
nate, obsign.] Ratifying; confirming by seal- 
ing; confirmatory. 
Obsimatory signs. 
Bp. Ward, in Parr's Letters of Usher, p. 441. 
obsolesce (ob-so-les'), v. i. ; pret. and pp. obso- 
lesced, ppr. obsolescing. [< L. obsolescere, pp. 
obsoletus, wear out, fall into disuse, grow old, 
decay, inceptive of obsoJere (rare), wear out, de- 
cay, appar. < ob, before, + solere, be wont ; or 
else < obs-, a form of ob-, + olere, grow (cf . ado- 
lescent).'} To become obsolescent; fall into 
disuse. 
Intermediate between the English which I have been 
treating of and English of recent emergence stands that 
which is obsolescing. F. Hall, Mod. Eng., p. 266. 
obsolescence (ob-so-les'ens), w. [<obsolescen(t) 
+ -ce.] 1. The state or process of becoming 
obsolete. 2. In entom., an obsolete part of 
a mark, stria, etc.: as, a band with a central 
obsolescence. 
obsolescent (ob-so-les'ent), a. [< L. obsoles- 
cen(t-)s, ppr. of obsolescere, fall into disuse : see 
obsolesce.] 1. Becoming obsolete; passing out 
of use: as, an obsolescent word or custom. 
All the words compounded of here and a preposition, 
except hereafter, are obsolete or obsolescent. 
Johnson, Diet., under Hereout. 
Almost always when religion comes before us histori- 
cally it is seen consecrating . . . conceptions obsolete or 
obsolescent. J. R. Seeley, Nat. Religion, p. 229. 
2. In entom., somewhat obsolete ; imperfectly 
visible. =Syn. 1. Ancient, Old, Antique, etc. Seeanctenti. 
obsolete (ob'so-let), a. [= F. obsolete = Sp. 
Pg. obsoleto = It. ossoJeto, < L. obsoletus, worn 
out, gone out of use, pp. of obsolescere, wear 
out: see obsolesce.] 1. Gone out of use; no 
longer in use : as, an obsolete word ; an obsolete 
custom; an obsolete law. Abbreviated obs. 
But most [Orders] are veiy particular and obsolete in 
their Dress, as being the Rustic Habit of old times, with- 
out Liunen, or Ornaments of the present Age. 
Lister, Journey to Paris, p. 19. 
What makes a word obsolete more than general agree- 
ment to forbear 1 Johnson. 
The fashion seems every day growing still more obsolete. 
Goldsmith, The Bee, No. 5. 
The progress of science is so rapid that what seemed 
the most profound learning a few years ago may to-day 
be merely an exploded fallacy or an obsolete theory. 
J. W. Dawson, Nature and the Bible, p. 18. 
2. In descriptive eool., indistinct; not clearly 
or sharply marked; applied to colors, faded, 
dim: as, an obsolete purple; applied to orna- 
ments or organs, very imperfectly developed, 
hardly perceptible: as, obsolete striae, spines, 
ocelli. It is often employed to denote the lack or im- 
perfect development of a character which is distinct in 
the opposite sex or in a kindred species or genus. =Syn. 
1. Ancient, Old, Antique, etc. See ancientl. 
Obsolete (ob'so-let), v.; pret. and pp. obsoleted, 
ppr. obsoleting. [< L. obsoletus, pp. of obsoles- 
cere, wear out : see obsolete, a.] I. intrant. To 
become obsolete; pass out of use. F. Hall. 
[Rare.] 
Il.t trans. To make obsolete ; render disused. 
Those [books] that as to authority are obsoleted. 
Roger North, Examen, p. 24. (Davies.) 
obspletely (ob'so-let-li), adv. In descriptive 
zool., in an obsolete manner; not plainly: as, 
obsoletely punctured, striate, etc. 
Obsoleteness (ob'so-let-nes), n. 1. The state 
of being obsolete or out of use. 
The reader is therefore embarrassed at once with dead 
and with foreign languages, with obsoleteness and innova- 
tion. 
Johnson, Proposals for Printing the Works of Shakspeare. 
2. In descriptive zool., the state of being abor- 
tive, or so imperfectly developed as to be in- 
distinct or scarcely discernible. 
Obsoletion (ob-so-le'shon), n. [< obsolete + 
-ion.] The act of becoming obsolete ; disuse ; 
discontinuance. 
Proper lamentation on the obsoletion of Christmas gam- 
bols and pastimes. Keats, To his Brothers, Dec. 22, 1817. 
obsoletism (ob'so-let-izm), n. [< obsolete + 
-ism.] A custom, fashion, word, or the like 
which has become obsolete or gone out of use. 
Does, then, the warrant of a single person validate a ne- 
oterism, or, what is scarcely distinguishable therefrom a 
resuscitated obsoleteism* F. Hall, Mod. Eng., p 35 
4066 
obstacle (ob'sta-kl), n. and a. [< ME. obstacle, 
< ( )F. obstacle j'ostacle, F. obstacle = Sp. obstd- 
culo = Pg. obstaeulo = It. ostacolo, < LL. ob- 
staculum, a hindrance, obstacle, < L. obstare, 
stand before, stand against, withstand, < ob, be- 
fore, against, + stare, stand: see state, stand.] 
1. 11. 1. That which opposes or stands in the 
way ; something that obstructs progress ; a hin- 
drance or obstruction. 
If all obstacles were cut away, 
And that my path were even to the crown, 
As my ripe revenue and due by birth. 
Shak., Rich. III., iii. 7. 156. 
I fear you will meet with divers obstacles in the Way, 
which, if you cannot remove, you must overcome. 
Howell, Letters, ii. 1. 
The Egyptians warned me that Suez was a place of ob- 
stacles to pilgrims. K. F. Burton, El-Medinah, p. 90. 
2. Objection; opposition. 
Whan the Chane saghe that thei made non obstacle to 
performen his Commandement, thanne he thoughte wel. 
Mandemlle, Travels, p. 22fl. 
Obstacle-race, a race, as in a steeplechase, in which ob- 
stacles have to be surmounted or circumvented. 
For some time he becomes engaged in a terrible obsta- 
cle-race, and makes little progress. 
Fortnightly fiev., N. S., XLIII. 93. 
= Syn. Difficulty, Obstacle, Obstruction, Impediment, check, 
barrier. A difficulty embarrasses, an obstacle stops us. We 
remove [or overcome) the one. we surmount the other. 
Generally the first expresses something arising from the 
nature and circumstances of the affair ; the second some- 
thing arising from a foreign cause. An obstruction blocks 
the passage, and is generally put in the way intentionally. 
An impediment literally clogs the feet and so may con- 
tinue with one, hindering his progress, while a diffiadty 
once overcome, an obstacle once surmounted, or an ob- 
struction once broken down, leaves one free to go forward 
without hindrance. 
"The Conquest of Mexico" was achieving itself under 
difficulties hardly less formidable than those encountered 
by Cortes. 0. W. Holmes, Emerson, i. 
The great obstacle to progress is prejudice. 
Bovee, Summaries of Thought, Prejudice. 
In general, contest by causing delay is so mischievous 
an obstruction of justice that the courts ought to be astute 
to detect it and prompt to suppress it. 
The Century, XXX. 328. 
Thus far into the bowels of the land 
Have we march'd on without impediment. 
Shak., Rich. III., v. 2. 4. 
II. a. Obstinate ; stubborn. [Prov. Eng. or 
humorous.] 
Fie, Joan that thou wilt be so obstacle ! 
Shak., 1 Hen. VI., v. 4. 17. 
obstaclenesst, . [< obstacle, a., + -ness.] Ob- 
stinacy. 
How long shal I, lining here in earth, striue with yonr 
unfaythful obstaclenes? J. Udall, On Mark ix. 
obstancet (ob'stans), . [ME., taken in sense 
of 'substance'; <. OF. obstance, (. L. obstantia, 
a withstanding, resistance, < obstan(t-)s, ppr. 
of obstare, withstand: see obstacle.] 1. Sub- 
stance; essence. 
The obstance of this felynge [of delight produced in the 
soul by song] lyes in the lufe of Ihesu, whilke es f edde and 
lyghtenede by swilke inaner of sanges. 
Hampole, Prose Treatises (E. E. T. S.), p. 18. 
2. Opposition. 
obstancyt (ob'stan-si), n. [As obstance (see 
-/).] Same as obstance, 1. 
It [the obstinacy of a wife] doth indeed but irrita reddere 
rnsalia, annul the contract ; after marriage it is of no ab- 
ide. B. Jonson, Epiccene, v. 3. 
obsta principiis (ob'sta prin-sip'i-is). [L. 
(Ovid, Rem. Amor., 91): obsta, 2d pers. sing, 
imp. of obstare, withstand; principiis, dat. of 
principium, beginning.] Withstand the begin- 
nings that is, resist the first insidious ap- 
proaches of anything dangerous or evil. 
obstetric (pb-stet'rik), a. [= F. obstetrique = 
Sp. obstetrica, n., obstetrics; Pg. obstetrico, m., 
obstetrica, f., an obstetrician ; < NL. obsletricus, 
a var. (accom. to adjectives in -Jews) of L. ob- 
stetricius (> E. obstetricious), pertaining to a 
midwife, neut. pi. obstetricia (> E. obstetricy), 
obstetrics, < obstetrix, a midwife, lit. 'she who 
stands before,' sc. to assist, < obstare, pp. 06- 
status, stand before : see obstacle.] Same as 06- 
stetrical. 
obstetrical (ob-stet'ri-kal), a. [< obstetric + 
-al.] Of or pertaining to midwifery: as, obstet- 
rical skill; obstetrical surgery Obstetrical for- 
ceps, forceps used in cases of difficult delivery. See cut 
in next column. Obstetrical toad, the nurse-frog, Aly- 
tes obstetricans. See Alytes. 
Obstetricatet (ob-stet'ri-kat), v. [< LL. obstet- 
ricatus, pp. of obstetrieare, be a midwife, < L. 
obstetrix (-trie-), a midwife: see obstetric.'] I. 
intrans. To perform the office of a midwife. 
Nature does obstetricate, and do that office of herself 
when it is the proper season. 
Evelyn, Sylva, ii. 6. (Davies.) 
obstinate 
a b 
Obstetrical Forceps. 
, blades; d.locks; ^.handles; dd, rings forobtaioingafirm grasp 
of the locked instrument by the accoucheur. The blades are sepa- 
rately introduced, and after two separate parts or " branches " are 
locked together are used to grasp the head of the child in assisting 
delivery. 
II. trans. To assist or promote by performing 
the office of a midwife. 
None so obstetricated the birth of the expedient to answer 
both Brute and his Trojans' advantage. 
Waterhouse, On Fortescue, p. 202. (Latham.) 
obstetricationt (ob-stet-ri-ka'shon), w. [< 06- 
stetricatc + -ion.] The office of, or the assis- 
tance rendered by, a midwife ; delivery. 
He shall be by a healthful obstetrication drawn forth into 
a larger prison of the world ; there indeed he hath elbow- 
room enough. Bp. Hall, Free Prisoner, 4. 
obstetrician (ob-ste-trish'an), n. [< obstetric 
+ -tan.] One skilled in obstetrics; an accou- 
cheur; a midwife. 
obstetricious (ob-ste-trish'us), a. [< L. obste- 
tricius, pertaining to a midwife: see obstetric.] 
Pertaining to obstetrics; obstetrical; hence, 
helping to produce or bring forth. 
Yet is all humane teaching but maientical or obstetri- 
cious. Cudworth, Intellectual System, i. 4. 
obstetrics (ob-stet'riks), . [PI. of obstetric: 
see -ics.] ^That department of medical art 
which deals with parturition and the treatment 
and care of women during pregnancy and child- 
birth; the practice of midwifery. 
obstetricy (ob-stet'ri-si). n. [= Sp. Pg. obste- 
tricia = It. ostetricia, f . ,< L. obstetricia, neut. pi., 
obstetrics: see obstetric.] Same as obstetrics. 
Dunglison. [Rare.] 
obstetrist (ob-stet'rist), n. [< obstetr(ics) + 
^ist.] One versed in the study or skilled in the 
practice of obstetrics ; an obstetrician. 
The same consummate obstetrist . . . insisted upon the 
rule, now generally adopted, of not removing the placenta 
if it in any degree adhere. 
Jt. Barnes, Dis. of Women, xxxvi. 
obstetrix (ob-stet'riks), n. [= OF. obstetrice = 
Pg. obstetriz, < L. obstetrix, a midwife : see ob- 
stetric.] A woman who renders professional 
aid to women in labor ; a midwife. 
obstinacy (ob'sti-na-si), n. [< ME. obstinacie, 
< OF. "obstinacie, < ML. obstinacia, obstinatia, 
var. of obstinacio(n-), for obstinatio(n-), obsti- 
uateness : see obstinate and obstination.] 1 . The 
character or condition of being obstinate ; per- 
tinacious adherence to an opinion, purpose, or 
course of conduct, whether right or wrong, and 
in spite of argument or entreaty; a fixedness, 
and generally an unreasonable fixedness, of 
opinion or resolution, that cannot be shaken ; 
stubbornness ; pertinacity. 
And yf ther be eny restreynt, denyinge, obstinacys, or 
contradiccion made by eny persone or persones that 
owith to paye such summe forfet, that then vppon reson- 
able warynynge made to them they to appere aforn the 
xxiiij. English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 380. 
Only sin 
And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue. 
Shak., All's Well, i. 3. 186. 
2. An unyielding character or quality; con- 
tinued resistance to the operation of remedies 
or to palliative measures : as, the obstinacy of 
a fever or of a cold. =syn. 1. Doggeduess, headiness, 
wilfulness, obduracy. See obstinate. 
set, resolute, stubborn, obstinate, pp. of 06- 
stinare, set one's mind firmly upon, resolve, < 
ob, before, + *stinare, < stare, stand: see state. 
Cf. destine, destinate.] 1. Pertinaciously ad- 
hering to an opinion, purpose, or course of ac- 
tion ; not yielding to argument, persuasion, or 
entreaty; headstrong. 
He thought he wold noo more be obstenate, 
And gaue them respite be fore them euerychon. 
Generydes (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1664. 
The queen is obstinate., 
Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it. 
Shak., Hen. VIII.. ii. 4. 121. 
I'm an obstinate old fellow when I'm in the wrong ; but 
you shall now find me as steady in the right. 
Sheridan, The Duenna, iii. 7. 
2. Springing from or indicating obstinacy. 
