observans

Forms

observāns (genitive observantis, comparative observantior, superlative observantissimus); third-declension adjective of one termination^[1][2]

Etymology

Used as an adjective, it is the present participle from Latin observō (“to watch, observe”).^[1][3] That verb is a compound of ob- and servō (“to watch over, keep”).^[1] De Vaan reports Rix's view that the simple verb was made from an old noun Proto-Italic *serwā- or *serwom (“observation”), related to servus, which goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ser-u-o- (“guardian”).^[4] Cognate with Avestan haraiti (“heeds, protects”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero is its first author.^[3] In the Pro Quinctio he speaks of a relative who is attentive to the man addressed, hominem propinquum, tuī observantem, and in a letter to his brother he promises that he will find someone grateful and attentive, grātum hominem observantemque.^[1][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant attentive and respectful towards someone, often with a genitive, as in Cicero's letters (observantissimum studiōsissimumque nostrī) and in Pliny the Younger.^[1][2] It also meant scrupulous in carrying out one's duties: Pliny the Younger tells a correspondent that he is omnium officiōrum observantissimus, and Gellius notes that religiōsus came to be used for someone chaste and observant.^[1][5] Apuleius uses it of the stars keeping a very exact law in their courses.^[1][2]

Church Latin also used it as a masculine noun, Observant.^[6] It survives in Italian osservante.^[5]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of people attentive to others.^[1][3]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of the stars keeping their courses.^[1][3]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it to explain religiōsus.^[1][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Attentive, respectful (towards someone), often with a genitive.^[1][2][5]
2. Scrupulous, observant in carrying out duties.^[1][5]

Noun

1. (Ecclesiastical Latin) An Observant.^[6]

Related words

• observō
• observantia
• servō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson