English Explanatory Dictionary

observe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.
  2. To follow or obey the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).
  3. To take note of and celebrate (a holiday or similar occurrence), to keep; to follow (a type of time or calendar reckoning).
  4. To comment on something; to make an observation.
noun
  1. An observation (remark, comment or judgement).

Pronunciation

/əbˈzɜːv/ /ɒbˈzɜːv/ əb-zûrvʹ /əbˈzɝv/ en-us-observe.ogg

Word forms

observe observes observing observed no-table-tags glossary observest observedst observeth

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”).

Synonyms

celebrate

Derived words

observance observant observation observational observatory observer

Translations

Bulgarian: спа́звам Bulgarian: съблюдавам Catalan: observar Catalan: seguir Chinese Mandarin: 遵守 Chinese Mandarin: 遵循 Czech: dodržovat Danish: overholde Danish: følge Dutch: respecteren Dutch: in acht nemen Dutch: volgen Finnish: noudattaa Finnish: viettää Finnish: pitää Finnish: totella French: respecter French: observer French: garder Georgian: აკვირდება Georgian: დააკვირდება German: beachten German: halten Greek: τηρώ Haitian Creole: obsève Hungarian: betart Irish: coinnigh Italian: osservare Japanese: 守る Japanese: 従う Latin: sequor Latin: obsequor Latin: persequor Latin: teneo Latin: inhaereo Latin: persevero Latin: servō Polish: przestrzegać Polish: obchodzić Polish: zachowywać Portuguese: seguir Portuguese: acompanhar Portuguese: ter em conta Portuguese: cumprir Portuguese: respeitar Russian: соблюда́ть Russian: блюсти́ Russian: соблюсти́ Russian: отмеча́ть Scottish Gaelic: comharraich Serbo-Croatian: slediti Serbo-Croatian: slijediti Serbo-Croatian: opservirati Slovene: upoštevati Spanish: servar Spanish: observar Swahili: kushika Swedish: iaktta Zazaki: çım eşten
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