observe
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also observé
Contents |
English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From French observer, from Latin observare (“to watch, note, mark, heed, guard, keep, pay attention to, regard, comply with, etc.”), from ob (“before”) + servare (“to keep”), from Proto-Indo-European *serw- (“to guard”). Cognate with Gothic (sarwa, “weapons, armour”), Old English searu (“device, design, contrivance, art, cunning, craft, artifice, wile, deceit, stratagem, ambush, treachery, plot, trick, snare, ambuscade, cleverness, machine, engine, fabric, armor, equipment, arms”).
Pronunciation [edit]
Verb [edit]
observe (third-person singular simple present observes, present participle observing, simple past and past participle observed)
- (transitive) To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.
- 2013 March 1, Frank Fish, George Lauder, “Not Just Going with the Flow”, American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, page 114:
- An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.
- From this vantage point we can observe the behavior of the animals in their natural habitat.
- 2013 March 1, Frank Fish, George Lauder, “Not Just Going with the Flow”, American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, page 114:
- (transitive) To follow the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).
- Please observe all posted speed limits.
- 2011 November 10, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, Telegraph:
- A sell-out crowd of 10,000 then observed perfectly a period of silence before the team revealed their black armbands, complete with stitched-in poppies, for the match. After Fifa’s about-turn, it must have been a frantic few days for the England kit manufacturer. The on-field challenge was altogether more straightforward.
- (intransitive) To comment on something; to make an observation.
- The senator observed that the bill would be detrimental to his constituents.
- (transitive) To obey a law, rule or custom; comply with.
Synonyms [edit]
- (follow a custom): celebrate
Translations [edit]
to notice, to watch
to follow
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to comment
Derived terms [edit]
External links [edit]
- observe in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- observe in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
Anagrams [edit]
French [edit]
Verb [edit]
observe
- first-person singular present indicative of observer
- third-person singular present indicative of observer
- first-person singular present subjunctive of observer
- third-person singular present subjunctive of observer
- second-person singular imperative of observer
Portuguese [edit]
Verb [edit]
observe
- first-person singular present subjunctive of observar
- third-person singular present subjunctive of observar
- first-person singular imperative of observar
- third-person singular imperative of observar
Spanish [edit]
Verb [edit]
observe (infinitive observar)
- Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of observar.
- First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of observar.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of observar.
- Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of observar.
Categories:
- English terms derived from French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Gothic entries which need Gothic script
- English verbs
- English reporting verbs
- French verb forms
- Portuguese verb forms
- Spanish verb forms
- Spanish verb imperative forms
- Spanish verb singular forms
- Spanish verb second-person forms
- Spanish verb formal forms
- Spanish forms of verbs ending in -ar
- Spanish verb subjunctive forms
- Spanish verb first-person forms
- Spanish verb present forms
- Spanish verb third-person forms
