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observancemore about observance

observance


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Observance  \Ob*serv"ance\,  n.  [F.  observance,  L.  observantia 
  See  {Observant}.] 
  1.  The  act  or  practice  of  observing  or  noticing  with 
  attention;  a  heeding  or  keeping  with  care  performance;  -- 
  usually  with  a  sense  of  strictness  and  fidelity;  as  the 
  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  general;  the  strict 
  observance  of  duties. 
 
  It  is  a  custom  More  honored  in  the  breach  than  the 
  observance.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  An  act  ceremony,  or  rite,  as  of  worship  or  respect; 
  especially,  a  customary  act  or  service  of  attention;  a 
  form  a  practice;  a  rite;  a  custom. 
 
  At  dances  These  young  folk  kept  their  observances. 
  --Chaucer. 
 
  Use  all  the  observance  of  civility.  --Shak. 
 
  Some  represent  to  themselves  the  whole  of  religion 
  as  consisting  in  a  few  easy  observances.  --Rogers. 
 
  O  I  that  wasted  time  to  tend  upon  her  To  compass 
  her  with  sweet  observances!  --Tennyson. 
 
  3.  Servile  attention;  sycophancy.  [Obs.] 
 
  Salads  and  flesh,  such  as  their  haste  could  get 
  Served  with  observance.  --Chapman. 
 
  This  is  not  atheism,  But  court  observance.  --Beau.  & 
  Fl 
 
  Syn:  {Observance},  {Observation}.  These  words  are 
  discriminated  by  the  two  distinct  senses  of  observe.  To 
  observe  means  (1)  to  keep  strictly;  as  to  observe  a 
  fast  day  and  hence  observance  denotes  the  keeping  or 
  heeding  with  strictness;  (2)  to  consider  attentively,  or 
  to  remark;  and  hence  observation  denotes  either  the  act 
  of  observing,  or  some  remark  made  as  the  result  thereof. 
  We  do  not  say  the  observation  of  Sunday,  though  the  word 
  was  formerly  so  used  The  Pharisees  were  curious  in 
  external  observances;  the  astronomers  are  curious  in 
  celestial  observations. 
 
  Love  rigid  honesty,  And  strict  observance  of 
  impartial  laws.  --Roscommon. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  observance 
  n  1:  a  patient  look  [syn:  {observation},  {watching}] 
  2:  a  formal  event  performed  on  a  special  occasion;  "a  ceremony 
  commemorating  Pearl  Harbor"  [syn:  {ceremony},  {ceremonial}, 
  {ceremonial  occasion}] 
  3:  the  act  of  noticing  or  paying  attention;  "he  escaped  the 
  notice  of  the  police"  [syn:  {notice},  {observation}] 
  4:  conformity  with  law  or  custom  or  practice  etc  [syn:  {honoring}] 
  [ant:  {nonobservance}] 




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