O – Obstancy

O

O is the fifteenth letter, and the fourth vowel in the English Alphabet. The shape of this letter seems to have been taken from the circular configuration of the lips in uttering the sound. It corresponds in figure with the Coptic o and nearly with the Syriac initial and final vau, and the Ethiopic ain. In words derived from the oriental languages, it often represents the vau of those languages, and sometimes the ain; the original sound of the latter being formed deep in the throat, and with a greater aperture of the mouth.

In English, o has a long sound, as in tone, hone, groan, cloke, roll, droll; a short sound, as in lot plod, rod, song, lodge. The sound of oo is shortened in words ending in a close articulation, as in book and foot.

The long sound of o is usually denoted by e, at the end of a word or syllable, as in bone, lonely; or by a servile a, as in moan, foal. It is generally long before ll, as in roll; but it is short in doll, loll, and in words of more syllables than one, as in folly, volley.

As a numeral, o was sometimes used by the ancients for 11, and with a dash over it for 11, 000.

Among the ancients, o was a mark of tripe time, from the notion that the ternary or number 3, is the most perfect of numbers, and properly expressed by a circle, the most perfect figure.

O is often used as an exclamation, expressing a wish.

O, were he present.

It sometimes expresses surprise. Shakespeare uses o for a circle or oval.

Within this wooden o

O.S. stands for Old Style.

Oaf

OAF, noun [said to be a corruption of ouph or elf, a fairy or demon, and to denote a foolish child left by fairies in the place of one of better intellects which they steal.]

1. A changeling; a foolish child left by fairies in the place of another.

2. A dolt; an idiot; a blockhead.

Oafish

OAFISH, adjective Stupid; dull; doltish. [Little used.]

Oafishness

OAFISHNESS, noun Stupidity; dullness; folly. [Little used.]

Oak

OAK, noun [It is probably that the first syllable, oak was originally an adjective expressing some quality, as hard or strong, and by the disuse of tree, oak became the name of the tree.]

A tree of the genus Quercus, or rather the popular name of the genus itself, of which there are several species. The white oak grows to a great size, and furnishes a most valuable timber; but the live oak of the United States is the most durable timber for ships. In Hartford still stands the venerable oak in the hollow stem of which was concealed and preserved the colonial charter of Connecticut, when Sir E. Andros, by authority of a writ of quo warranto from the British crown, attempted to obtain possession of it, in 1687. As it was then a large tree, it must now be nearly three hundred years old.

Oak-Apple

OAK-APPLE, noun A kind of spungy excrescence on oak leaves or tender branches, etc. produced in consequence of the puncture of an insect. It is called also oak leaf gall, or gall-nut.

Oaken

OAKEN, adjective o'kn.

1. Made of oak or consisting of oak; as an oaken plank or bench; an oaken bower.

2. Composed of branches of oak; as an oaken garland.

Oakenpin

OAKENPIN, noun An apple; so called from its hardness.

Oakling

OAKLING, noun A young oak.

Oakum

OAKUM, noun

The substance of old ropes untwisted and pulled into loose hemp; used for caulking the seams of ships, stopping leaks, etc. That formed from untarred ropes is called white oakum

Oaky

OAKY, adjective [from oak.] Hard; firm; strong.

Oar

OAR, noun An instrument for rowing boats, being a piece of timber round or square at one end, and flat at the other. The round end is the handle, and the flat end the blade.

To boat the oars, in seamanship, to cease rowing and lay the oars in the boat.

To ship the oars, to place them in the row-locks.

OAR, verb intransitive To row.

OAR, verb transitive To impel by rowing.

Oary

OARY, adjective Having the form or use of an oar; as the swan's oary feet.

Oast

OAST,

OAT, noun

A plant of the genus Avena, and more usually, the seed of the plant. The word is commonly used in the plural, oats. This plant flourishes best in cold latitudes, and degenerates in the warm. The meal of this grain, oatmeal, forms a considerable and very valuable article of food for man in Scotland, and every where oats are excellent food for horses and cattle.

Oat

OAT, n. A plant of the genus Avena, and more usually, the seed of the plant. The word is commonly used in the plural, oats. This plant flourishes best in cold latitudes, and degenerates in the warm. The meal of this grain, oatmeal, forms a considerable and very valuable article of food for man in Scotland, and every where oats are excellent food for horses and cattle.

Oat-Thistle

OAT-THISTLE, noun A plant. [Not used.]

Oatcake

OATCAKE, noun A cake made of the meal of oats.

Oaten

OATEN, adjective o'tn.

1. Made of oatmeal; as oaten cakes.

2. Consisting of an oat straw or stem; as an oaten pipe.

Oath

OATH, noun

A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed. The appeal to God in an oath implies that the person imprecates his vengeance and renounces his favor if the declaration is false, or if the declaration is a promise, the person invokes the vengeance of God if he should fail to fulfill it. A false oath is called perjury.

Oathable

OATHABLE, adjective Capable of having an oath administered to. [Not used.]

Oathbreaking

OATHBREAKING, noun The violation of an oath; perjury.

Oatmalt

OATMALT, noun Malt made of oats.

Oatmeal

OATMEAL, noun

1. Meal of oats produced by grinding or pounding.

2. A plant. [Not used.]

Ob

OB, a Latin preposition, signifies primarily, in front, before, and hence against, towards; as in objicio, to object, that is, to throw against. It has also the force of in or on; as in obtrude. In composition, the letter b is often changed into the first letter of the word to which it is prefixed; as in occasion, offer, oppose.

Obambulate

OBAM'BULATE, verb intransitive [Latin obambulo.] To walk about. [Not used.]

Obambulation

OBAMBULA'TION, noun A walking about. [Not used.]

Obbligato

OBBLIGA'TO, an. A term in music, signifying on purpose for the instrument named.

Obcordate

OBCORD'ATE, adjective [Latin from ob and cor, the heart.]

In botany, shaped like a heart, with the apex downward; as an obcordate petal or legume.

Obdormition

OBDORMI'TION, noun [Latin obdormio, to sleep.] Sleep; sound sleep. [Little used.]

Obduce

OBDU'CE, verb transitive [Latin obduco; ob and duco, to lead.] To draw over, as a covering. [Little used.]

Obduct

OBDUCT', verb transitive [Latin obduco.] To draw over; to cover. [Not in use.]

Obduction

OBDUC'TION, noun [Latin obductio.] The act of drawing over, as a covering; the act of laying over. [Little used.]

Obduracy

OB'DURACY, noun [See Obdurate.] Invincible hardness of heart; impenitence that cannot be subdued; inflexible persistency in sin; obstinacy in wickedness.

God may by almighty grace hinder the absolute completion of sin in final obduracy

Obdurate

OB'DURATE, adjective [Latin obduro, to harden; ob and duro.]

1. Hardened in heart; inflexibly hard; persisting obstinately in sin or impenitence.

2. Hardened against good or favor; stubborn; unyielding; inflexible.

The custom of evil makes the heart obdurate against whatsoever instructions to the contrary.

3. Harsh; rugged; as an obdurate consonant. [Little used.]

OB'DURATE, verb transitive To harden. [Not used.]

Obdurately

OB'DURATELY, adverb Stubbornly; inflexibly; with obstinate impenitence.

Obdurateness

OB'DURATENESS, noun Stubbornness; inflexible persistence in sin.

Obduration

OBDURA'TION, noun The hardening of the heart; hardness of heart; stubbornness.

Obdure

OBDU'RE, verb transitive [Latin obduro.]

1. To harden; to render obstinate in sin. [Little used.]

2. To render inflexible. [Little used.]

Obdured

OBDU'RED, participle passive or adjective Hardened; inflexible; impenitent.

Obduredness

OBDU'REDNESS, noun Hardness of heart; stubbornness. [Little used.]

Obedience

OBE'DIENCE, noun [Latin obedientia. See Obey.]

Compliance with a command, prohibition or known law and rule of duty prescribed; the performance of what is required or enjoined by authority, or the abstaining from what is prohibited, in compliance with the command or prohibition. To constitute obedience the act or forbearance to act must be in submission to authority; the command must be known to the person, and his compliance must be in consequence of it, or it is not obedience obedience is not synonymous with obsequiousness; the latter often implying meanness or servility, and obedience being merely a proper submission to authority. That which duty requires implies dignity of conduct rather than servility. obedience may be voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary obedience alone can be acceptable to God.

Government must compel the obedience of individuals; otherwise who will seek its protection or fear its vengeance?

Obedient

OBE'DIENT, adjective [Latin obediens.] Submissive to authority; yielding compliance with commands, orders or injunctions; performing what is required, or abstaining from what is forbid.

The chief his orders gives; the obedient band, with due observance, wait the chief's command.

Obediential

OBEDIEN'TIAL, adjective According to the rule of obedience; in compliance with commands; as obediential submission.

Obediently

OBE'DIENTLY, adverb With obedience; with due submission to commands; with submission or compliance with orders.

Obeisance

OBE'ISANCE, noun [Latin obedio.]

A bow or courtesy; an act of reverence made by an inclination of the body or the knee. Genesis 37:7.

Obeliscal

OBELIS'CAL, adjective In the form of an obelisk.

Obelisk

OB'ELISK, noun [Latin obeliscus; Gr. a spit.]

1. A truncated, quadrangular and slender pyramid intended as an ornament, and often charged with inscriptions or hieroglyphics. Some ancient obelisks appear to have been erected in honor of distinguished persons or their achievements. Ptolemy Philadelphus raised one of 88 cubits high in honor of Arsinee. Augustus erected one in the Campus Martius at Rome, which served to mark the hours on a horizontal dial drawn on the pavement.

2. In writing and printing; a reference or mark referring the reader to a note in the margin. It is used also for a mark of censure, or for designating obsolete words, or for other purposes at the pleasure of the writer.

Obequitate

OBEQ'UITATE, verb intransitive [Latin obequito; ob and equito, to ride; equus, a horse.] To ride about. [Not used.]

Obequitation

OBEQUITA'TION, noun The act of riding about. [Not used.]

Oberration

OBERRA'TION, noun [Latin oberro; ob and erro, to wander.] The act of wandering about. [Little used.]

Obese

OBE'SE, adjective [Latin obesus.] Fat; fleshy. [Little used.]

Obeseness

OBE'SENESS,

OBES'ITY, noun [Latin obesitas.] Fatness; fleshiness; incumbrance of flesh.

Obesity

OBES'ITY, n. [L. obesitas.] Fatness; fleshiness; incumbrance of flesh.

Obey

OBEY, verb transitive [Latin obedio; Gr.]

1. To comply with the commands, orders or instructions of a superior, or with the requirements of law, moral, political or municipal; to do that which is commanded or required, or to forbear doing that which is prohibited.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord. Ephesians 6:1.

Servants, obey in all things your masters. Colossians 3:20.

He who has learned to obey will know how to command.

2. To submit to the government of; to be ruled by.

All Israel obeyed Song of Solomon 1:1Chron. 29. Daniel 7:27.

3. To submit to the direction or control of. Seamen say, the ship will not obey the helm.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans 6:12. James 3:3.

4. To yield to the impulse, power or operation of; as, to obey stimulus.

Relentless time, destroying power, whom stone and brass obey

Obeyed

OBEYED, participle passive Complied with; performed; as a command; yielded to.

Obeyer

OBEYER, noun One who yields obedience.

Obeying

OBEYING, participle present tense Complying with commands; submitting to.

Obfirm

OBFIRM, obferm',

Obfirmate

OBFIRMATE, obferm'ate. verb transitive To make firm; to harden in resolution. [Not used.]

Obfuscate

OBFUS'CATE, verb transitive [Latin ob and fusco, to obscure.] To darken; to obscure.

Obfuscated

OBFUS'CATED, participle passive Darkened in color.

Obfuscation

OBFUS'CATION, noun The act of darkening or rendering obscure; a clouding.

Obfuscations of the cornea.

Obit

OB'IT, noun [Latin obiit, obivit; ob and eo, to go.] Properly, death; decease; hence, funeral solemnities or anniversary service for the soul of the deceased on the day of his death.

Obitual

OBIT'UAL, adjective [Latin obeo, to die; obitus, death.] Pertaining to obits, or the days when funeral solemnities are celebrated; as obitual days.

Obituary

OBIT'UARY, noun

1. A list of the dead, or a register of obitual anniversary days, when service is performed for the dead.

2. An account of persons deceased; notice of the death of a person, often accompanied with a brief biographical sketch of his character.

OBIT'UARY, adjective Relating to the decease of a person or persons; as an obituary notice.

Object

OB'JECT, noun [Latin objectum, objectus. See the Verb.]

1. That about which any power or faculty is employed, or something apprehended or presented to the mind by sensation or imagination. Thus that quality of a rose which is perceived by the sense of smell, is an object of perception. When the object is not in contact with the organ of sense, there must be some medium through which we obtain the perception of it. The impression which objects make on the senses, must be by the immediate application of them to the organs of sense, or by means of the medium that intervenes between the organs and the objects.

2. That to which the mind is directed for accomplishment or attainment; end; ultimate purpose. Happiness is the object of every man's desires; we all strive to attain that object Wealth and honor are pursued with eagerness as desirable objects.

3. Something presented to the senses or the mind, to excite emotion, affection or passion.

This passenger felt some degree of concern at the sight of so moving an object

In this sense, the word uttered with a particular emphasis, signifies something that may strongly move our pity, abhorrence or disgust. What an object!

4. In grammar, that which is produced, influenced or acted on by something else; that which follows a transitive verb. When we say, 'God created the world, ' world denotes the thing produced, and is the object after the verb created. When we say, 'the light affects the eye, ' eye denotes that which is affected or acted on. When we say, 'instruction directs the mind or opinions, ' mind and opinions, ' mind and opinions are the objects influenced.

Object-Glass

OB'JECT-GLASS, noun In a telescope or microscope, the glass placed at the end of a tube next the object.

OBJECT', verb transitive [Latin objicio, ob and jacio, to throw against.]

1. To oppose; to present in opposition.

Pallas to their eyes the mist objected, and condens'd the skies.

2. To present or offer in opposition, as a charge criminal, or as a reason adverse to something supposed to be erroneous or wrong; with to or against.

The book - giveth liberty to object any crime against such as are to be ordered.

The adversaries of religion object against professors the irregularity of their lives, and too often with justice.

There was this single fault that Erasmus, though an enemy, could object to him.

3. To offer; to exhibit. [Little used.]

OBJECT', verb intransitive To oppose in words or arguments; to offer reasons against. The council objected to the admission of the plaintiff's witnesses.

OBJECT', adjective Opposed; presented in opposition. [Not used.]

Objectable

OBJECT'ABLE, adjective That may be opposed.

Objection

OBJEC'TION, noun [Latin objectio.]

1. The act of objecting.

2. That which is presented in opposition; adverse reason or argument. The defendant urged several objections to the plaintiff's claims. The plaintiff has removed or overthrown those objections.

3. That which may be offered in opposition; reason existing, though not offered, against a measure or an opinion. We often have objections in our minds which we never offer or present in opposition.

4. Criminal charge; fault found.

Objectionable

OBJEC'TIONABLE, adjective Justly liable to objections; such as may be objected against.

Objective

OBJECT'IVE, adjective

1. Belonging to the object; contained in the object.

Objective certainty, is when the proposition is certainly true in itself; and subjective, when we are certain of the truth of it. The one is in things, the other in our minds.

2. In grammar, the objective case is that which follows a transitive verb or a preposition; that case in which the object of the verb is placed, when produced or affected by the act expressed by the verb. This case in English answers to the oblique cases of the Latin.

Objectively

OBJECT'IVELY, adverb

1. In the manner of an object; as a determinate idea objectively in the mind.

2. In the state of an object.

Objectiveness

OBJECT'IVENESS, noun The state of being an object.

Is there such a motion or objectiveness of external bodies, which produceth light?

Objector

OBJECT'OR, noun One that objects; one that offers arguments or reasons in opposition to a proposition or measure.

Objurgate

OBJUR'GATE, verb transitive [Latin objurgo; ob and jurgo, to chide.] To chide; to reprove. [Not used.]

Objurgation

OBJURGA'TION, noun [Latin objurgatio.] The act of chiding by way of censure; reproof; reprehension. [Little used.]

Objurgatory

OBJUR'GATORY, adjective Containing censure or reproof; culpatory. [Little used.]

Oblada

OBLA'DA, noun A fish of the sparus kind, variegated with longitudinal lines, and having a large black spot on each side near the tail.

Oblate

OBLA'TE, adjective [Latin oblatur, offero; ob and fero, to bear.]

Flattened or depressed at the poles; as an oblate spheroid, which is the figure of the earth.

Oblateness

OBLA'TENESS, noun The quality or state of being oblate.

Oblation

OBLA'TION, noun [Latin oblatio, from offero; ob and fero, to bear or bring.]

Any thing offered or presented in worship or sacred service; an offering; a sacrifice.

Bring no more vain oblations. Isaiah 1:13.

Oblectate

OBLEC'TATE, verb transitive [Latin oblecto.] To delight; to please highly. [Not used.]

Oblectation

OBLECTA'TION, noun The act of pleasing highly; delight.

Obligate

OB'LIGATE, verb transitive [Latin obligo; ob and ligo, to bind.]

To bind, as one's self, in a moral and legal sense; to impose on, as a duty which the law or good faith may enforce. A man may obligate himself to pay money, or erect a house, either by bond, by covenant or by a verbal promise. A man obligates himself only by a positive act of his own. We never say, a man obligates his heirs or executors. Until recently, the sense of this word has been restricted to positive and personal acts; and when moral duty or law binds a person to do something, the word oblige has been used. But this distinction is not now observed.

The millions of mankind, as one vast fraternity, should feel obligated by a sense of duty and the impulse of affection, to realize the equal rights and to subserve the best interests of each other.

That's your true plan, to obligate the present minister of state.

Obligated

OB'LIGATED, participle passive Bound by contract or promise.

Obligating

OB'LIGATING, participle present tense Bound by covenant, contract, promise or bond.

Obligation

OBLIGA'TION, noun [Latin obligatio.]

1. The binding power of a vow, promise, oath or contract, or of law, civil, political or moral, independent of a promise; that which constitutes legal or moral duty, and which renders a person liable to coercion and punishment for neglecting it. The laws and commands of God impose on us an obligation to love him supremely, and our neighbor as ourselves. Every citizen is under an obligation to obey the laws of the state. Moral obligation binds men without promise or contract.

2. The binding force of civility, kindness or gratitude, when the performance of a duty cannot be enforced by law. Favors conferred impose on men an obligation to make suitable returns.

3. Any act by which a person becomes bound to do something to or for another, or to forbear something.

4. In law, a bond with a condition annexed and a penalty for non-fulfillment.

Obligato

OBLIGATO. [See Obbligato.]

Obligatory

OB'LIGATORY, adjective Binding in law or conscience; imposing duty; requiring performance or forbearance of some act; followed by on; to is obsolete.

As long as law is obligatory so long our obedience is due.

Oblige

OBLI'GE, verb transitive pronounced as written, not oblege. [Latin obligo; ob and ligo, to bind.]

1. To constrain by necessity; to compel by physical force. an admiral may be obliged to surrender his ships, or he may be obliged by adverse winds to delay sailing.

2. To constrain by legal force; to bind in law. We are obliged to pay toll for supporting roads and bridges.

3. To bind or constrain by moral force. We are obliged to believe positive and unsuspected testimony.

4. To bind in conscience or honor; to constrain by a sense of propriety. We are often obliged to conform to established customs, rites or ceremonies. To be obliged to yield to fashion is often the worst species of tyranny.

5. To do a favor to; to lay under obligation of gratitude; as, to oblige one with a loan of money.

6. To do a favor to; to please; to gratify. oblige us with your company at dinner.

7. To indebt.

To those hills we are obliged for all our metals.

Obliged

OBLI'GED, participle passive Bound in duty or in law; compelled; constrained; favored; indebted.

Obligee

OBLIGEE', noun The person to whom another is bound, or the person to whom a bond is given.

Obligement

OBLI'GEMENT, noun Obligation. [Little used.]

Obliger

OBLI'GER, noun One that obliges.

Obliging

OBLI'GING, participle present tense

1. Binding in law or conscience; compelling; constraining.

2. Doing a favor to.

No man can long be the enemy of one whom he is in the habit of obliging

OBLI'GING, adjective Having the disposition to do favors, or actually conferring them; as an obliging man; a man of an obliging disposition; hence, civil; complaisant; kind.

Mons. Strozzi has many curiosities, and is very obliging to a stranger that desires the sight of them.

Obligingly

OBLI'GINGLY, adverb With civility; kindly; complaisantly.

Obligingness

OBLI'GINGNESS, noun

1. Obligation. [Little used.]

2. Civility; complaisance; disposition to exercise kindness.

Obligor

OBLIGOR', noun The person who binds himself or gives his bond to another.

Oblike

OBLI'KE, adjective obli'ke. [Latin obliquus; .]

1. Deviating from a right line; not direct; not perpendicular; not parallel; aslant.

It has a direction oblique to that of the former motion.

An oblique angle is either acute or obtuse; any angle except a right one.

An oblique line is one that, falling on another, makes oblique angles with it.

Oblique planes, in dialing, are those which decline from the zenith, or incline towards the horizon.

Oblique sailing, is when a ship sails upon some rhomb between the four cardinal points, making an oblique angle with the meridian.

2. Indirect; by a side glance; as an oblique hint.

3. In grammar, an oblique case is any case except the nominative.

Obliquation

OBLIQUA'TION, noun [Latin obliquo, from obliquus, oblique.]

1. Declination from a strait line or course; a turning to one side; as the obliquation of the eyes.

2. Deviation from moral rectitude.

Oblique

OBLI'QUE,

OBLI'QUELY, adverb

1. In a line deviating from a right line; not directly; not perpendicularly.

Declining from the noon of day, the sun obliquely shoots his burning ray.

2. Indirectly; by a side glance; by an allusion; not in the direct or plain meaning.

His discourse tends obliquely to the detracting from others.

Obliqueness

OBLI'QUENESS, noun Obliquity.

Obliquity

OBLIQ'UITY, noun [Latin obliquitas.]

1. Deviation from a right line; deviation from parallelism or perpendicularity; as the obliquity of the ecliptic to the equator.

2. Deviation from moral rectitude.

To disobey God or oppose his will in any thing imports a moral obliquity

3. Irregularity; deviation from ordinary rules.

Obliterate

OBLIT'ERATE, verb transitive [Latin oblitero; ob and litera, letter.]

1. To efface; to erase or blot out any thing written; or to efface any thing engraved. A writing may be obliterated by erasure, by blotting, or by the slow operation of time or natural causes.

2. To efface; to wear out; to destroy by time or other means; as, to obliterate ideas or impressions; to obliterate the monuments of antiquity; to obliterate reproach.

3. To reduce to a very low or imperceptible state.

The torpor of the vascular system and obliterated pulse.

Obliterated

OBLIT'ERATED, participle passive Effaced; erased; worn out; destroyed.

Obliterating

OBLIT'ERATING, participle present tense Effacing; wearing out; destroying.

Obliteration

OBLITERA'TION, noun The act of effacing; effacement; a blotting out or wearing out; extinction.

Oblivion

OBLIV'ION, noun [Latin oblivio.]

1. Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance.

Among our crimes oblivion may be set.

2. A forgetting of offenses, or remission of punishment. An act of oblivion is an amnesty, or general pardon of crimes and offenses, granted by a sovereign, by which punishment is remitted.

Oblivious

OBLIV'IOUS, adjective [Latin obliviosus.]

1. Causing forgetfulness.

The oblivious calm of indifference.

Behold the wonders of th' oblivious lake.

2. Forgetful.

Oblocutor

OB'LOCUTOR, noun A gainsayer. [Not in use.]

Oblong

OB'LONG, adjective [Latin oblongus.] Longer than broad.

OB'LONG, noun A figure or solid which is longer than it is broad.

Oblong-Ovate

OBLONG-OVATE, adjective In botany, between oblong and ovate, but inclined to the latter.

Oblongish

OB'LONGISH, adjective Somewhat oblong.

Oblongly

OB'LONGLY, adjective In an oblong form.

Oblongness

OB'LONGNESS, noun The state of being longer than broad.

Obloquious

OBLO'QUIOUS, adjective [See Obloquy.] Containing obloquy; reproachful. [Little used.]

Obloquy

OB'LOQUY, noun [Latin obloquor; ob and loquor, to speak.]

1. Censorious speech; reproachful language; language that casts contempt on men or their actions.

Shall names that made your city the glory of the earth, be mentioned with obloquy and detraction?

2. Cause of reproach; disgrace. [Not used.]

Obluctation

OBLUCTA'TION, noun [Latin obluctor; ob and luctor, to struggle.]

A struggling or striving against; resistance. [Little used.]

Obmutescence

OBMUTES'CENCE, noun [Latin obmutesco, to be silent.]

1. Loss of speech; silence,

2. A keeping silence.

Obnoxious

OBNOX'IOUS, adjective [Latin obnoxius; ob and noxius, hurtful, from noceo.]

1. Subject; answerable.

The writings of lawyers, which are tied and obnoxious to their particular laws.

2. Liable; subject to cognizance or punishment.

We know ourselves obnoxious to God's severe justice.

3. Liable; exposed; as friendship obnoxious to jealousies.

4. Reprehensible; censurable; not approved; as obnoxious authors.

5. Odious; hateful; offensive; with to; as, the minister was obnoxious to the whigs.

6. Hurtful; noxious.

Obnoxiously

OBNOX'IOUSLY, adverb

1. In a state of subjection or liability.

2. Reprehensibly; odiously; offensively.

Obnoxiousness

OBNOX'IOUSNESS, noun

1. Subjection or liableness to punishment.

2. Odiousness; offensiveness. The obnoxiousness of the law rendered the legislature unpopular.

Obnubilate

OBNU'BILATE, verb transitive [Latin obnubilor; ob and nubilo; nubes, mist, cloud.]

To cloud; to obscure.

Obnubilation

OBNUBILA'TION, noun The act or operation of making dark or obscure.

Obole

OB'OLE, noun [Latin obolus.] In pharmacy, the weight of ten grains or half a scruple.

Obolus

OB'OLUS, noun [Latin from G.] A small silver coin of Athens, the sixth part of a drachma, about two cents in value, or a penny farthing sterling.

Obovate

OBO'VATE, adjective In botany, inversely ovate; having the narrow end downward; as an obovate leaf.

Obreption

OBREP'TION, noun [Latin obrepo; ob and repo, to creep.]

The act of creeping on with secrecy or by surprise.

Obreptitious

OBREPTI'TIOUS, adjective [supra.] Done or obtained by surprise; with secrecy or by concealment of the truth.

Obscene

OBSCE'NE, adjective [Latin obscaenus.]

1. Offensive to chastity and delicacy; impure; expressing or presenting to the mind or view something which delicacy, purity and decency forbid; to be exposed; as obscene language; obscene pictures.

2. Foul; filthy; offensive; disgusting.

A girdle foul with grease binds his obscene attire.

3. Inauspicious; ill omened.

At the cheerful light, the groaning ghosts and birds obscene take flight.

Obscenely

OBSCE'NELY, adverb In a manner offensive to chastity or purity; impurely; unchastely.

Obsceneness

OBSCE'NENESS,

OBSCEN'ITY, noun [Latin obscaenitas.]

1. Impurity in expression or representation; that quality in words or things which presents what is offensive to chastity or purity of mind; ribaldry.

Cowley asserts plainly that obscenity has no place in wit.

Those fables were tempered with the Italian severity, and free from any note of infamy or obsceneness

No pardon vile obscenity should find.

2. Unchaste actions; lewdness.

To wash th' obscenities of night away.

Obscuration

OBSCURA'TION, noun [Latin obscuratio.]

1. The act of darkening.

2. The state of being darkened or obscured; as the obscuration of the moon in an eclipse.

Obscure

OBSCU'RE, adjective [Latin obscurus.]

1. Dark; destitute of light.

Whoso curseth his father or mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Proverbs 20:20.

2. Living in darkness; as the obscure bird.

3. Not easily understood; not obviously intelligible; abstruse; as an obscure passage in a writing.

4. Not much known or observed; retired; remote from observation; as an obscure retreat.

5. Not noted; unknown; unnoticed; humble; mean; as an obscure person; a person of obscure birth.

6. Not easily legible; as an obscure inscription.

7. Not clear, full or distinct; imperfect; as an obscure view of remote objects.

OBSCU'RE, verb transitive [Latin obscuro.]

1. To darken; to make dark. The shadow of the earth obscures the moon, and the body of the moon obscures the sun, in an eclipse.

2. To cloud; to make partially dark. Thick clouds obscure the day.

3. To hide from the view; as, clouds obscure the sun.

4. To make less visible.

Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love, and I should be obscured.

5. To make less legible; as, time has obscured the writing.

6. To make less intelligible.

There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by the writings of the learned as this.

7. To make less glorious, beautiful or illustrious.

- And see'st not sin obscures thy godlike frame?

8. To conceal; to make unknown.

9. To tarnish; as, to obscure brightness.

Obscurely

OBSCU'RELY, adverb

1. Darkly; not clearly; imperfectly; as an object obscurely seen; obscurely visible.

2. Out of sight; in a state not to be noticed; privately; in retirement; not conspicuously.

There live retired, content thyself to be obscurely good.

3. Not clearly; not plainly to the mind; darkly; as future events obscurely revealed.

4. Not plainly; indirectly; by hints or allusion.

Obscureness

OBSCU'RENESS,

OBSCU'RITY, noun [Latin obscuritas.]

1. Darkness; want of light.

We wait for light, but behold obscurity. Isaiah 59:1.

2. A state of retirement from the world; a state of being unnoticed; privacy.

You are not for obscurity designed.

3. Darkness of meaning; unintelligibleness; as the obscurity of writings or of a particular passage.

4. Illegibleness; as the obscurity of letters or of an inscription.

5. A state of being unknown to fame; humble condition; as the obscurity of birth or parentage.

Obscurity

OBSCU'RITY, n. [L. obscuritas.] 1. Darkness; want of light.We wait for light, but behold obscurity. Is. 59.2. A state of retirement from the world; a state of being unnoticed; privacy.You are not for obscurity designed.3. Darkness of meaning; unintelligibleness; as the obscurity of writings or of a particular passage.4. Illegibleness; as the obscurity of letters or of an inscription.5. A state of being unknown to fame; humble condition; as the obscurity of birth or parentage.

Obsecrate

OB'SECRATE, verb transitive [Latin obsecro.] To beseech; to intreat; to supplicate; to pray earnestly.

Obsecration

OBSECRA'TION, noun

1. Intreaty; supplication.

2. A figure of rhetoric, in which the orator implores the assistance of God or man.

Obsequent

OB'SEQUENT, adjective [Latin obsequens.] Obedient; submissive to. [Little used.]

Obsequies

OB'SEQUIES, noun plural [Latin obsequium, complaisance, from obsequor, to follow.]

Funeral rites and solemnities; the last duties performed to a deceased person.

[Milton uses the word in the singular, but the common usage is different.]

Obsequious

OBSE'QUIOUS, adjective [from Latin obsequium, complaisance, from obsequor, to follow; ob and sequor.]

1. Promptly obedient or submissive to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of others, properly to the will or command of a superior, but in actual use, it often signifies yielding to the will or desires of such as have no right to control.

His servants weeping, obsequious to his orders, bear him hither.

2. Servilely or meanly condescending; compliant to excess; as an obsequious flatterer, minion or parasite.

3. Funereal; pertaining to funeral rites. [Not used.]

Obsequiously

OBSE'QUIOUSLY, adverb

1. With ready obedience; with prompt compliance.

They rise and with respectful awe, at the word given, obsequiously withdraw.

2. With reverence for the dead. [Not used.]

Obsequiousness

OBSE'QUIOUSNESS, noun

1. Ready obedience; prompt compliance with the orders of a superior.

2. Servile submission; mean or excessive complaisance.

They apply themselves both to his interest and humor, with all the arts of flattery and obsequiousness

Observable

OBSERV'ABLE, adjective s as z. [See Observe.]

1. That may be observed or noticed.

2. Worthy of observation or of particular notice; remarkable.

I took a just account of every observable circumstance of the earth, stone, metal or other matter.

Observably

OBSERV'ABLY, adverb s as z. In a manner worthy of note.

Observance

OBSERV'ANCE, noun s as z.

1. The act of observing; the act of keeping or adhering to in practice; performance; as the observance of rules, rites, ceremonies or laws.

Love rigid honesty, and strict observance of impartial laws.

2. Respect; ceremonial reverence in practice.

To do observance on the morn of May.

3. Performance of rites, religious ceremonies or external service.

Some represent to themselves the whole of religion as consisting in a few easy observances.

4. Rule of practice; thing to be observed.

5. Observation; attention. [Little used.]

6. Obedient regard or attention.

Having had experience of his fidelity and observance abroad. [Not used.]

Observanda

OBSERVAND'A, noun plural s as z. [Latin] Things to be observed.

Observant

OBSERV'ANT, adjective s as z.

1. Taking notice; attentively viewing or noticing; as an observant spectator or traveler.

2. Obedient; adhering to in practice; with of. He is very observant of the rules of his order.

We are told how observant Alexander was of his master Aristotle.

3. Carefully attentive; submissive.

OBSERV'ANT, noun s as z.

1. A slavish attendant. [Not in use.]

2. A diligent observer.

Observation

OBSERVA'TION, noun s as z. [Latin observatio. See Observe.]

1. The act of observing or taking notice; the act of seeing or of fixing the mind on any thing. We apply the word to simple vision, as when one says, a spot on the sun's disk did not fall under his observation; or to the notice or cognizance of the mind, as when one says, the distinction made by the orator escaped his observation When however it expresses vision, it often represents a more fixed or particular view than a mere transient sight; as an astronomical observation

2. Notion gained by observing; the effect or result of seeing or taking cognizance in the mind, and either retained in the mind or expressed in words; inference or something arising out of the act of seeing or noticing, or that which is produced by thinking and reflecting on a subject; note; remark; animadversion. We often say, I made the observation in my own mind; but properly an observation is that which is expressed as the result of viewing or of thinking.

In matters of human prudence, we shall find the greatest advantage by making wise observations on our conduct.

3. Observance; adherence to in practice; performance of what is prescribed.

He freed the christian church from the external observation and obedience of legal precepts not formally moral.

4. In navigation, the taking of the altitude of the sun or a star in order to find the latitude.

Observator

OBSERVA'TOR, noun s as z.

1. One that observes or takes notice.

2. A remarker.

Observatory

OBSERV'ATORY, n s as z.

A place or building for making observations on the heavenly bodies; as the royal observatory at Greenwich.

Observe

OBSERVE, verb transitive obzerv'. [Latin observo; ob and servo, to keep or hold. The sense is to hold in view, or to keep the eyes on.]

1. To see or behold with some attention; to notice; as, to observe a halo round the moon; I observed a singular phenomenon; we observe strangers or their dress. I saw the figure, but observed nothing peculiar in it.

2. To take notice or cognizance of by the intellect. We observe nice distinctions in arguments, or a peculiar delicacy of thought.

3. To utter or express, as a remark, opinion or sentiment; to remark. He observed that no man appears great to his domestics.

4. To keep religiously; to celebrate.

A night to be much observed to the Lord. Exodus 12:17.

Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Exodus 12:17.

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Galatians 4:10.

5. To keep or adhere to in practice; to comply with; to obey; as, to observe the laws of the state; to observe the rules and regulations of a society.

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Matthew 28:20.

6. To practice.

In the days of Enoch, the people observed not circumcision or the sabbath.

OBSERVE, verb intransitive observ'.

1. To remark. I have heard the gentleman's arguments, and shall hereafter observe upon them.

2. To be attentive.

Observed

OBSERV'ED, participle passive s as z.

1. Noticed by the eye or the mind.

2. Kept religiously; celebrated; practiced.

Observer

OBSERV'ER, noun s as z.

1. One who observes; one that takes notice; particularly, one who looks to with care, attention or vigilance.

Careful observers may foretell the hour, by sure prognostic, when to dread a shower.

Creditors are great observers of set days and times.

2. A beholder; a looker on; a spectator.

3. One who keeps any law, custom, regulation or rite; one who adheres to any thing in practice; one who performs; as a great observer of forms; an observer of old customs.

4. One who fulfills or performs; as, he is a strict observer of his word or promise.

5. One who keeps religiously; as an observer of the sabbath.

Observing

OBSERV'ING, participle present tense s as z.

1. Taking notice by the eye or the intellect.

2. Remarking.

3. Keeping; adhering to in practice; fulfilling.

4. adjective Giving particular attention; habitually taking notice; attentive to what passes. He is an observing man.

Observingly

OBSERV'INGLY, adverb s as z. Attentively; carefully; with close observation.

Obsess

OBSESS', verb transitive [Latin obsideo, obsessus; ob and sedeo, to sit.] To besiege. [Not used.]

Obsession

OBSESS'ION, noun [Latin obsessio.] The act of besieging; the first attack of Satan antecedent to possession. [Little used.]

Obsidian

OBSID'IAN, noun A mineral of two kinds, translucent and transparent. The translucent has a velvet black color; the transparent is of a dark blue. These occur massive in porphyry, gneiss or granite, generally invested with a gray opake crust.

The fracture of obsidian is vitreous or pearly; hence the two varieties, vitreous obsidian and pearlstone.

Obsidional

OBSID'IONAL, adjective [Latin obsidionalis; ob and sedeo, to sit.] Pertaining to a siege.

Obsignate

OB'SIGNATE, verb transitive [Latin obsigno; ob and signo, to seal.] To seal up; to ratify. [Little used.]

Obsignation

OBSIGNA'TION, noun The act of sealing; ratification by sealing; confirmation.

Obsignatory

OBSIG'NATORY, adjective Ratifying; confirming by sealing.

Obsolescent

OBSOLES'CENT, adjective [Latin obsolesco, to go out of use.]

Going out of use; passing into desuetude.

All the words compounded of here and a preposition, except hereafter, are obsolete or absolescent.

Obsolete

OBSOLE'TE, adjective [Latin obsoletus.]

1. Gone into disuse; disused; neglected; as an obsolete word; an obsolete statute; applied chiefly to words or writings.

2. In botany, obscure; not very distinct.

Obsoleteness

OBSOLE'TENESS, noun

1. The state of being neglected in use; a state of desuetude.

2. In botany, indistinctness.

Obstacle

OB'STACLE, noun [Latin obsto, to withstand; ob and sto.]

That which opposes; any thing that stands in the way and hinders progress; hinderance; obstruction, either in a physical or moral sense. An army may meet with obstacles on its march; bad roads are obstacles to traveling; prejudice is an obstacle to improvement; want of union is often an insuperable obstacle to beneficial measures.

Obstancy

OB'STANCY, noun [Latin obstantia; ob and sto.] Opposition; impediment; obstruction. [Not used.]