I. əbˈzərv, -zə̄v, -zəiv verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English observen, from Middle French observer, from Latin observare to watch, guard, observe, from ob- to, over, completely + servare to keep, guard, observe — more at ob- , conserve
transitive verb
1. : to take notice of by appropriate conduct : conform one's action or practice to : heed , obey
observe rules
observing common decencies
2. obsolete : to give heed to (as in deference) : worship , honor
3. : to inspect or take note of as an augury, omen, or presage
observed the sacred geese
observed the stumble of his horse and turned back
4. : to celebrate or solemnize (as a ceremony, rite, or festival) after a customary or accepted form
we always observed birthdays at home
observe the Sabbath
5. : to see or sense especially through directed, careful, analytic attention
in order to get fresh light on this subject, I have observed my own children carefully — Bertrand Russell
keeping an ear pricked to observe the movements of the viceroy — Victoria Sackville-West
6. : to come to realize or know especially through consideration of noted facts
have observed that profane men living in ships … develop traits of profound resemblance — Joseph Conrad
as we trace … the development of the Greek mind, we can observe their intellect and their moral sense expanding — G.L.Dickinson
7. : to express as a result of observation : utter as a remark : say in a casual or incidental way : remark
8. : to make an observation on or of : ascertain by scientific observation
observe phenomena
observed the height of the sun
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to take notice : be attentive
b. : to make observations : watch
2. : remark , comment — usually used with on or upon
Synonyms: see keep , see
II. noun
( -s )
Scotland : remark , observation
a clever observe