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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ob·serve \\əb-ˈzərv\\ verb (ob·served ; ob·serv·ing) ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French observer, from Latin observare to guard, watch, observe, from ob- in the way, toward + servare to keep — more at conserve DATE 14th century transitive verb 1. to conform one's action or practice to (as a law, rite, or condition) : comply with 2. to inspect or take note of as an augury, omen, or presage 3. to celebrate or solemnize (as a ceremony or festival) in a customary or accepted way 4. a. to watch carefully especially with attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a judgment b. to make a scientific observation on or of 5. to come to realize or know especially through consideration of noted facts 6. to utter as a remark intransitive verb 1. a. to take notice b. to make observations : watch 2. remark , comment Synonyms: see keep • ob·serv·ing·ly \\-ˈzər-viŋ-lē\\ adverb English Etymology observe late 14c., "to hold to" (a manner of life or course of conduct), from O.Fr . observer, from L. observare "watch over, look to, attend to, guard," from ob "over" + servare "to watch, keep safe," from PIEbase *ser- "to protect." Meaning "to attend to in practice, to keep, follow" is attested from late 14c. Sense of "watch, perceive, notice" is c.1560, via notion of "see and note omens." Meaning "to say by way of remark" is from c.1600.http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ observe ob·serve / Eb5zE:v; NAmE Eb5zE:rv / verb(not used in the progressive tenses 不用于进行时) (formal) 1. to see or notice sb / sth 看到；注意到；观察到: ▪ [VN] Have you observed any changes lately? 最近你注意到什么变化没有？ All the characters in the novel are closely observed (= seem like people in real life). 小说中的人物个个栩栩如生。 ▪ [VN inf] The police observed a man enter the bank. 警察注意到一个男人走进了银行。 ▪ [VN -ing] They observed him entering the bank. 他们看见他走进银行。 ▪ [V that] She observed that all the chairs were already occupied. 她发现所有的椅子都有人坐了。 ▪ [VN to inf] He was observed to follow her closely. 有人看到他紧跟着她。 HELP This pattern is only used in the passive. 此句型仅用于被动语态。 ⇨ note at comment , notice 2. to watch sb / sth carefully, especially to learn more about them 观察；注视；监视 SYN monitor :
▪ [VN] I felt he was observing everything I did. 我觉得他正在注视着我做的每一件事。 The patients were observed over a period of several months. 这些病人被观察了数月之久。 ▪ [V wh-] They observed how the parts of the machine fitted together. 他们观看了机器零件的组装过程。 ▪ [V] He observes keenly, but says little. 他观察敏锐,但言语寥寥。 ⇨ note at look 3. (formal) to make a remark 说话；评论 SYN comment :
▪ [V that] She observed that it was getting late. 她说天色晚了。 ▪ [also V speech] 4. [VN] to obey rules, laws, etc. 遵守(规则、法律等): Will the rebels observe the ceasefire? 叛乱者会遵守停火协议吗？ The crowd observed a minute's silence (= were silent for six minute) in memory of those who had died. 众人为死者默哀一分钟。 5. [VN] (formal) to celebrate festivals, birthdays, etc. 庆祝；庆贺；欢度: Do they observe Christmas? 他们过不过圣诞节？ Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English observe verb 1 notice/watch ADV. carefully, closely | precisely | directly It is not possible to observe this phenomenon directly, but its effects can be seen in the rise in global temperatures. | actually It is the parents who actually observe these behavioural problems in their children. | just, simply You can learn a lot by simply observing. | generally, normally | quietly She stood there, quietly observing the domestic scene. | secretly | experimentally This phenomenon has been observed experimentally. VERB + OBSERVE be able to | be possible | be difficult to | be interesting to It is interesting to observe the reaction of the children to these changes. PREP. from unaware that she was being observed from the window PHRASES be commonly/frequently/widely observed This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch. | be easily/readily observed, an opportunity to observe sb/sth 2 make a remark ADV. correctly, justly, rightly, shrewdly She correctly observed that there was very little difference between the two parties on domestic policies. | drily, sardonically, wryly | tartly | coldly, coolly ‘You took your time, ’ he observed coolly. | conversationally | mildly, quietly | sadly PREP. to ‘It's easy for him to say that, ’ she observed tartly to Michael, ‘but can he prove it?’ 3 obey rules ADV. correctly, faithfully, scrupulously, strictly This procedure must be correctly observed. VERB + OBSERVE fail to PHRASES failure to observe sth Failure to observe club rules may result in expulsion. OLT observe verb ⇨ comment (She observed to me that…)⇨ follow 3 (observe the ceasefire)⇨ look 1 (The patients were observed.)⇨ notice (observe a change) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged ob·serve I. \əbˈzərv, -zə̄v, -zəiv\ verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English observen, from Middle French observer, from Latin observare to watch, guard, observe, from ob- to, over, completely + servare to keep, guard, observe — more at ob- , conserve transitive verb 1. : to take notice of by appropriate conduct : conform one's action or practice to : heed , obey < observe rules > < observing common decencies > 2. obsolete : to give heed to (as in deference) : worship , honor 3. : to inspect or take note of as an augury, omen, or presage < observed the sacred geese > < observed the stumble of his horse and turned back > 4. : to celebrate or solemnize (as a ceremony, rite, or festival) after a customary or accepted form < we always observed birthdays at home > < observe the Sabbath > 5. : to see or sense especially through directed, careful, analytic attention < in order to get fresh light on this subject, I have observed my own children carefully — Bertrand Russell > < keeping an ear pricked to observe the movements of the viceroy — Victoria Sackville-West > 6. : to come to realize or know especially through consideration of noted facts < have observed that profane men living in ships … develop traits of profound resemblance — Joseph Conrad > < as we trace … the development of the Greek mind, we can observe their intellect and their moral sense expanding — G.L.Dickinson > 7. : to express as a result of observation : utter as a remark : say in a casual or incidental way : remark 8. : to make an observation on or of : ascertain by scientific observation < observe phenomena > < observed the height of the sun > intransitive verb 1. a. : to take notice : be attentive b. : to make observations : watch 2. : remark , comment — usually used with on or uponSynonyms: see keep , see II. noun (-s) Scotland : remark , observation < a clever observe > |
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