observe

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əbˈzɝv/; /əbˈzɜːv/, /ɒbˈzɜːv/ (UK)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English observen, borrowed from Old French observer (“to observe, watch over, follow”),^[2][3] from Latin observāre, to watch over, heed, attend to, guard, comply with,^[2][3][4] from ob-, before, over, and servāre, to watch, keep safe (see conserve),^[2][3][5] from Proto-Indo-European *ser-, to protect.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To hold to a course of conduct, to keep or follow in practice: about 1386 in the OED, about 1390 in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in Barnhart.^[6][2]

Semantic evolution

To keep a law or custom is from 1390,^[6] and to celebrate a religious rite duly from 1526.^[6][7] The meaning to see and note omens appeared in 1391,^[2] but the general sense, to watch, perceive, notice, was not common until the mid-16th century.^[2][7] To say by way of remark is from the 17th century.^[7] Observable is from 1608.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 1386 – to keep to a course.^[6]
• 1390 – to keep a law.^[6]
• 1391 – to note omens.^[2]
• 1526 – to celebrate a rite.^[6]
• mid-16th century – to watch, notice.^[2]
• 17th century – to remark.^[7]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To notice or perceive, especially through careful attention.
2. To watch attentively.
3. To make systematic or scientific observations of.
4. To say casually; to remark.
5. To abide by a law or custom.
6. To keep or celebrate a holiday or rite.
7. To be present without taking part.

Word family

• observingly
• observance
• observant
• observation
• observational
• observatory
• observer

Related words

• conserve
• preserve
• reserve

Usage notes

In Scots, observe also meant to watch or guard.^[8]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)