2. To make a remark; to comment; — generally with on or upon.
I have barely quoted . . . without observing upon it.
Pope. Syn. — To remark. See Remark.
Observer
(Ob*serv"er) n.
1. One who observes, or pays attention to, anything; especially, one engaged in, or trained to habits of,
close and exact observation; as, an astronomical observer.
The observed of all observers.
Shak.
Careful observers may foretell the hour,
By sure prognostic, when to dread a shower.
Swift. 2. One who keeps any law, custom, regulation, rite, etc.; one who conforms to anything in practice. "Diligent
observers of old customs." Spenser.
These . . . hearkend unto observers of times.
Deut. xviii. 14. 3. One who fulfills or performs; as, an observer of his promises.
4. A sycophantic follower. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
Observership
(Ob*serv"er*ship) n. The office or work of an observer.
Observing
(Ob*serv"ing), a. Giving particular attention; habitually attentive to what passes; as, an observing
person; an observing mind. — Ob*serv"ing*ly, adv.
Obsess
(Ob*sess") v. t. [L. obsessus, p. p. of obsidere to besiege; ob (see Ob-) + sedere to sit.]
To besiege; to beset. Sir T. Elyot.
Obsession
(Ob*ses"sion) n. [L. obsessio: cf.F. obsession.]
1. The act of besieging. Johnson.
2. The state of being besieged; — used specifically of a person beset by a spirit from without. Tylor.
Whether by obsession or possession, I will not determine.
Burton. Obsidian
(Ob*sid"i*an) n. [L. Obsidianus lapis, so named, according to Pliny, after one Obsidius, who
discovered it in Ethiopia: cf.F. obsidiane, obsidienne. The later editions of Pliny read Obsianus lapis,
and Obsius, instead of Obsidianus lapis, and Obsidius.] (Min.) A kind of glass produced by volcanoes.
It is usually of a black color, and opaque, except in thin splinters.
In a thin section it often exhibits a fluidal structure, marked by the arrangement of microlites in the lines
of the flow of the molten mass.
Obsidional
(Ob*sid"i*o*nal) a. [L. obsidionalis, from obsidio a siege, obsidere to besiege: cf.F. obsidional.
See Obsess.] Of or pertaining to a siege.
Obsidional crown (Rom.Antiq.), a crown bestowed upon a general who raised the siege of a beleaguered
place, or upon one who held out against a siege.
Obsigillation
(Ob*sig`il*la"tion) n. [L. ob (see Ob-) + sigillum a seal.] A sealing up. [Obs.] Maunder.
Obsign
(Ob*sign") v. t. [See Obsignate.] To seal; to confirm, as by a seal or stamp. [Obs.] Bradford.
