Observe Definition

əb-zûrv
observed, observes, observing
verb
observed, observes, observing
To be or become aware of, especially through careful and directed attention; notice.
Observed a car leaving the property.
American Heritage
To watch attentively.
Observe a child's behavior.
American Heritage
To notice or perceive (something)
Webster's New World
To make a systematic or scientific observation of.
Observe the orbit of a comet.
American Heritage
To act as an observer.
Webster's New World

Origin of Observe

  • From French observer, from Latin observare (“to watch, note, mark, heed, guard, keep, pay attention to, regard, comply with, etc."), from ob (“before") + servare (“to keep"), from Proto-Indo-European *serw- (“to guard"). Cognate with Gothic [script?] (sarwa, “weapons, armour"), Old English searu (“device, design, contrivance, art, cunning, craft, artifice, wile, deceit, stratagem, ambush, treachery, plot, trick, snare, ambuscade, cleverness, machine, engine, fabric, armor, equipment, arms").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English observen to conform to from Old French observer from Latin observāre to abide by, watch ob- over ob– servāre to keep, watch ser-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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