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observance

[uhb-zur-vuhns]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR observance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an act or instance of following, obeying, or conforming to: the observance of traffic laws.

a keeping or celebration by appropriate procedure, ceremonies, etc.: the observance of the Sabbath.

a procedure, ceremony, or rite, as for a particular occasion: patriotic observances.

a rule or custom to be followed or obeyed; a customary practice.

Roman Catholic Church.

a rule or discipline for a religious house or order.
a house or order observing a rule or discipline.

an act or instance of watching, noting, or perceiving; observation.

respectful attention or service.

Archaic. courteous attention as to a person; dutiful service.

Origin of observance

1175–1225; Middle English observaunce < Old French < Late Latin observantia, Latin: esteem, attention, derivative of observant- (stem of observāns), present participle of observāre. See observe, -ance

Related formspre·ob·serv·ance, noun

Can be confusedobservance observation

Synonyms for observance

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR observance ON THESAURUS.COM

1. compliance, adherence, heedfulness.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for observance

adherence, acknowledgment, compliance, fulfillment, celebration, liturgy, ritual, tradition, note, remark, observation, keeping, regard, mind, notice, mark, satisfaction, discharge, acquittal, heed

Examples from the Web for observance

Contemporary Examples of observance

Even for Washington and Lincoln one observance day was enough.
Embodying Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Remains a Vital Challenge
Harvey J. Kaye
April 6, 2014
“The observance of due process of law by the court was exemplary in this case,” says lawyer Minallah.
Memogate Brings Pakistan to the Edge
Ron Moreau
January 16, 2012

Historical Examples of observance

By their observance, an earth of peace may become not a vision but a fact.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
And the observance of this principle throughout a speech furnishes the whole art.
Phaedrus
Plato
It is an electrum, and magic and the observance of the hour have nothing to do with it.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
He may even cheat the gods of their due if he is formally correct in his observance.
History of Religion
Allan Menzies
"You shall have all observance," he said with his sweetest smile.
Is He Popenjoy?
Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for observance

observance

noun

recognition of or compliance with a law, custom, practice, etc

the act of such recognition

a ritual, ceremony, or practice, esp of a religion

observation or attention

the degree of strictness of a religious order or community in following its rule

archaic respectful or deferential attention

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for observance

n.

early 13c., "act performed in accordance with prescribed usage," especially a religious or ceremonial one, from Old French observance, osservance "observance, discipline," or directly from Latin observantia "act of keeping customs, attention, respect, regard, reverence," from observantem (nominative observans), present participle of observare (see observe). Observance is the attending to and carrying out of a duty or rule. Observation is watching, noticing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper