observe
[ uhb-zurv ]
/ əbˈzɜrv /
verb (used with object), ob·served, ob·serv·ing.
verb (used without object), ob·served, ob·serv·ing.
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DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?
"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
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decorum
Origin of observe
1350–1400; Middle English observen < Middle French observer < Latin observāre to watch, regard, attend to, equivalent to ob- ob- + servāre to keep, save, pay heed to
SYNONYMS FOR observe
2 note. Observe, witness imply paying strict attention to what one sees or perceives. Both are “continuative” in action. To observe is to mark or be attentive to something seen, heard, etc.; to consider carefully; to watch steadily: to observe the behavior of birds, a person's pronunciation. To witness, formerly to be present when something was happening, has added the idea of having observed with sufficient care to be able to give an account as evidence: to witness an accident.
4 mention, say.
6 follow, fulfill.
7 celebrate, keep.
OTHER WORDS FROM observe
Words nearby observe
observation, observation car, observation post, observational, observatory, observe, observer, obsess, obsessed, obsession, obsessive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for observe
British Dictionary definitions for observe
observe
/ (əbˈzɜːv) /
verb
(tr; may take a clause as object) to see; perceive; noticewe have observed that you steal
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to watch (something) carefully; pay attention to (something)
to make observations of (something), esp scientific ones
(when intr, usually foll by on or upon; when tr, may take a clause as object) to make a comment or remarkthe speaker observed that times had changed
(tr) to abide by, keep, or follow (a custom, tradition, law, holiday, etc)
Derived forms of observe
observable, adjectiveobservableness or observability, nounobservably, adverbWord Origin for observe
C14: via Old French from Latin observāre, from ob- to + servāre to watch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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