OBSERVANCE

observation, observance, watching

(noun) the act of observing; taking a patient look

honoring, observance

(noun) conformity with law or custom or practice etc.

notice, observation, observance

(noun) the act of noticing or paying attention; “he escaped the notice of the police”

ceremony, ceremonial, ceremonial occasion, observance

(noun) a formal event performed on a special occasion; “a ceremony commemorating Pearl Harbor”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Noun

observance (countable and uncountable, plural observances)

The practice of complying with a law, custom, command or rule.

The custom of celebrating a holiday or similar occasion.

Observation or the act of watching.

(religion) A rule governing a religious order, especially in the Roman Catholic church.

That which is to be observed.

Reverence; homage.

Antonyms

• misobservance

Source: Wiktionary

---

Ob*serv"ance, n. Etym: [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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---

Do you know this game?

Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins