OBSTRUCTIONS

Noun

obstructions

plural of obstruction

Source: Wiktionary


OBSTRUCTION

Ob*struc"tion, n. Etym: [L.obstructio.]

1. The act of obstructing, or state of being obstructed.

2. That which obstructs or impedes; an obstacle; an impediment; a hindrance. A popular assembly free from obstruction. Swift.

3. The condition of having the natural powers obstructed in their usual course; the arrest of the vital functions; death. [Poetic] To die, and go we know not where, To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot. Shak.

Syn.

– Obstacle; bar; barrier; impediment; clog; check; hindrance.

– Obstruction, Obstacle. The difference between these words is that indicated by their etymology; an obstacle is something standing in the way; an obstruction is something put in the way. Obstacle implies more fixedness and is the stronger word. We remove obstructions; we surmount obstacles. Disparity in age seems a greater obstacle to an intimate friendship than inequality of fortune. Collier. The king expected to meet with all the obstructions and difficulties his enraged enemies could lay in his way. Clarendon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

13 November 2024

OSTENSIBLE

(adjective) appearing as such but not necessarily so; “for all his apparent wealth he had no money to pay the rent”; “the committee investigated some apparent discrepancies”; “the ostensible truth of their theories”; “his seeming honesty”


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Coffee Trivia

According to WorldAtlas, Canada is the only non-European country to make its top ten list of coffee consumers. The United States at a distant 25 on the list.

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