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observe

verb
/əbˈzɜːv/UK/əbˈzɝv/CA

Etymology

From Middle French observer, from Old French observer, from Latin observō (“to watch”), from ob- (“before”) + servō (“to keep”), from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to guard”). Cognate with Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐍂𐍅𐌰 (sarwa, “weapons, armour”), Old English searu (“device”).

  1. derived from *ser-✻
  2. derived from observō
  3. derived from observer
  4. derived from observer

Definitions

  1. To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.

    • From this vantage point we can observe the behavior of the animals in their natural habitat.
    • She got up before dawn to observe the lunar eclipse.
    • “One horse?” interjected Holmes. ¶ “Yes, only one.” ¶ “Did you observe the colour?”

  2. To follow or obey the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).

    • Please observe all posted speed limits.

  3. To take note of and celebrate (a holiday or similar occurrence), to keep

    To take note of and celebrate (a holiday or similar occurrence), to keep; to follow (a type of time or calendar reckoning).

    • Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread.
    • On Sunday, most of Canada will observe daylight time and spring forward an hour in order to reflect the increasing sunlight.
  4. ›+ 2 more definitions

    1. To comment on something

      To comment on something; to make an observation.

      • The senator observed that the bill would be detrimental to his constituents.
      • Again, I farther obſerve, that as man is a compound being, ſo this renders him capable of ſeveral diſtinct kinds of pleaſure [...]

    2. An observation (remark, comment or judgement).

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at observe. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01observe02carefully03attentively04attentive05watching06watch07observing

A definitional loop anchored at observe. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

7 hops · closes at observe

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA