Definition of Observance

1. Noun. The act of observing; taking a patient look.

Exact synonyms: Observation, Watching
Generic synonyms: Look, Looking, Looking At
Specialized synonyms: Monitoring, Sighting, Stargazing
Derivative terms: Observe, Observe, Observe, Observe, Observe, Watch

2. Noun. A formal event performed on a special occasion. "A ceremony commemorating Pearl Harbor"

3. Noun. The act of noticing or paying attention. "He escaped the notice of the police"
Exact synonyms: Notice, Observation
Generic synonyms: Attending, Attention
Specialized synonyms: Mind, Remark
Derivative terms: Notice, Notice, Notice, Observant, Observe, Observe, Observe, Observe, Observe, Observe

4. Noun. Conformity with law or custom or practice etc..
Exact synonyms: Honoring
Generic synonyms: Abidance, Compliance, Conformation, Conformity
Specialized synonyms: Punctilio
Derivative terms: Honor, Observant, Observe
Antonyms: Nonobservance

Definition of Observance

1. n. 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.

Definition of Observance

1. Noun. The practice of complying with a law, custom, command or rule ¹

2. Noun. The custom of celebrating a holiday or similar occasion ¹

3. Noun. Observation or the act of watching ¹

4. Noun. (religion) A rule governing a religious order, especially in the Roman Catholic church ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Observance

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Observance

1. 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. "Salads and flesh, such as their haste could get, Served with observance." (Chapman) "This is not atheism, But court observance." (Beau. & Fl) Synonym: 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) Origin: F.observance, L. Observantia. See Observant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Observance

obsequie
obsequience
obsequiences
obsequies
obsequious
obsequiously
obsequiousness
obsequity
obsequy
observ'd
observabilities
observability
observable
observables
observably
observance (current term)
observances
observancy
observant
observantine
observantly
observants
observation
observation deck
observation dome
observation post
observation station
observation tower
observational
observational constraints

Literary usage of Observance

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The North American Review by Making of America Project, Jared Sparks, Edward Everett, James Russell Lowell, Henry Cabot Lodge (1880)
"RATIONAL SUNDAY observance. THE first thing to be said about the observance of the Sabbath is that, among Christians, there is no Sabbath to be observed. ..."

2. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society Held at Philadelphia for by American Philosophical Society (1921)
"Conditions Favoring the observance of International Law. The responsibility of the nation for acts of government organs imposes a duty upon every organ to ..."

3. The Journal of Home Economics by American Home Economics Association (1915)
"HOME ECONOMICS DAY AND ITS observance Home Economic students and teachers are now ... There is one kind of observance which is always appropriate for Home ..."

4. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"Those congregations which then severed their union with Cîteaux, but which no longer exist at the present time, are: (1) The Congregation of the observance ..."

5. Report of the Proceedings by Church congress (1867)
"THE LORD BISHOP or RIPON READ THE FOLLOWING PAPER :-^ THE question to be discussed is the Obligation and due observance of the Lord's Day. ..."

6. The Secret Societies of All Ages and Countries by Charles William Heckethorn (1875)
"—In 1767, there arose at Vienna a schism of the Strict observance; the dissentients, who called themselves " Clerks of the Relaxed observance," declaring ..."

7. The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal (1899)
"Mr. DN Lyon: " Lack of a full sense of the holiness of God's laws and the blessings that follow their observance." Mr. JW Lowrie: " Low spiritual life, ..."

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