/ əbˈzɜːvətri; NAmE əbˈzɜːrvətɔːri/ noun
( pl. -ies ) a special building from which scientists watch the stars, the weather, etc.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.; from modern Latin observatorium , from Latin observat- watched, from the verb observare to watch, from ob- towards + servare attend to, look at.