| 释义 |
observer|əbˈzɜːvə(r)|
Also 6 -ar, 7 -or.
[f. observe v. + -er1. Cf. OF. observeur (Godef. in sense 1).]
1. One who observes or keeps a law, rule, custom, practice, method, or anything prescribed or fixed.
1555Eden Decades 258 A diligente obseruer of his accustomed religion. 1660R. Coke Power & Subj. 256 A devout observor of the government, rites, and ceremonies of the Church of England. 1721G. Roussillon tr. Vertot's Rev. Portug. 84 Suppos'd to be a conceal'd observer of the Jewish law. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) II. xxxiii. 241, I am such an observer of method, that I can go [etc.]. 1880Wallace Ben-Hur iv. xv, They were..rigorous observers of the Law as found in the books of Moses.
†2. One who shows respect, deference or dutiful attention; an obsequious follower. Obs.
1601Sir. W. Cornwallis Disc. Seneca (1631) 38 The soul cherished and observed, recompenseth her observer. 1613Chapman Rev. Bussy D'Ambois iv. H ij, His iust contempt of Iesters, Parasites, Seruile obseruers. 1633Massinger Guardian i. ii, You are my gracious patroness and supportress, And I your poor observer.
3. a. One who watches, marks, or takes notice. (A frequent title of newspapers.)
1581Mulcaster Positions xxxix. (1887) 214 His observer, whom he [Plato] alloweth to go abroad to see fashions. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. i. ii. 202 He is a great Obseruer, and he lookes Quite through the Deeds of men. 1772Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) I. 24 This is the conclusion of a superficial observer. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xx. 140 This completes the glorious circuit within the observer's view. 1866Whipple Character 238 Hawthorne is one of those true observers who concentrate in observation every power of their minds.
b. One who observes presages or omens: see observe v. 6 b.
1588Parke tr. Mendoza's Hist. China 348 They were great Agorismers or obseruers of times..if they..meete with a Cayman or lyzarde..they know it to be a signe of euill fortune. 1611Bible Deut. xviii. 10 An obseruer of times, or an inchanter, or a witch. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 193 Strict Observers of Omens.
c. A person who observes without participating; spec. (a) one who attends a conference, display, etc., to note the proceedings; (b) one posted to an area of conflict to note events, supervise a cease-fire, etc.; also attrib., as observer force, observer group.
1925A. Toynbee Survey Internat. Affairs 1920–23 10 Several meetings were attended by an American observer. 1949Ann. Reg. 1948 292 The U.N. Balkans Commission..sent observers to watch the fighting there. 1958Observer 10 Aug. 4/6 Any measures.., in addition to the original observer group, which would serve to ensure the territorial integrity and political independence of Lebanon. 1962Rep. Comm. Broadcasting 1960 188 in Parl. Papers 1961–2 (Cmnd. 1753) IX. 259 The three advertising organisations which now appoint one representative and one observer to the Committee formerly appointed two representatives each. 1970Guardian 13 Jan. 9/8 The French and the Pope have already called for a new observer force. 1977Times 9 Dec. 1/3 Sir David attended the inquest in Pretoria as an independent observer at the invitation of the Association of Law Societies of South Africa.
4. a. One who observes phenomena scientifically; one who makes observations in a particular science; sometimes the official title of the person in charge of an observatory.
1795Proc. Board of Longitude 6 June 11 note, The..Astronomical Observer at the new Observatory, founded by the Trustees of the Radcliffe money. 1805Med. Jrnl. XIV. 563 It has been, and is still my intention..to confine the present survey to original observers of the disease. 1859Darwin Orig. Spec. ii. (1873) 46, I have..consulted some sagacious and experienced observers. 1871B. Stewart Heat (ed. 2) §40 Dilatations obtained after this method by different observers. 1891Dict. Nat. Biog. XXVII. 373 Immediately on his [Hornsby's] appointment in 1772 as the first Radcliffe Observer [at Oxford], he laid the foundation⁓stone of the present observatory.
b. One whose duty it is to make military observations; esp. (a) a member of an artillery group trained to identify the target; (b) a person trained to notice and identify aircraft, or carried in an aeroplane († or other aircraft) to note the enemy's position, etc.; spec. as a rank in an air force; also attrib., as observer company, observer corps, observer flight, observer officer.
[1854C. Tomlinson Cycl. Useful Arts I. 16/1 Scarcely had the observer reached the height of 3,000 feet, than he observed..a thin vapour.] 1870tr. F. Marion's Wonderful Balloon Ascents iii. iv. 215 The soldiers of the enemy, all who saw the observer watching them.., came to the idea that they could do nothing without being seen. 1903Heavy Artill. Training 36 If the target is not visible from the guns or ground quite close to them,..two observers are required. 1906Strand Mag. May 515/1 The first of these was Mr. E. T. Fetch, accompanied by Mr. Krarup as observer, on a twelve-horse-power single cylinder Packard car. 1910Blackw. Mag. Feb. 209/1 The service of an aeroplane, especially if..it could carry a military observer as well as the pilot, would be invaluable. 1914Field Artill. Training ix. 325 The observer, having located the position of the target and conveyed the information to the artillery commander..receives from him the signal ‘Observe for line’. 1914Daily Express 28 Aug. 2/6 (heading) Observer flights. 1916H. Barber Aeroplane Speaks 50 Quickly the Observer climbs into his seat in front of the Pilot. 1928C. F. S. Gamble Story N. Sea Air Station xiii. 226 During this year [1916] the rank of Observer Officer was created. 1932Flight 22 July 677/2 It is very necessary to see, at least once a year, how the Observer Corps is functioning. 1940War Illustr. 5 Jan. p. ii/3 Parker..was a Group Commander in the Observer Companies of the Royal Defence Corps, which was founded in 1916. 1954P. K. Kemp Fleet Air Arm 52 During 1916, the Admiralty opened a special school for training observers and instituted a new rank of Observer Officer. 1977J. Cleary High Road to China i. 26 The Bristol Fighter..carried two guns, one fired straight ahead by the pilot and the other able to be fired in a complete circle by the observer.
c. Used attrib. with reference to the effect of subjective factors on the accuracy or veracity of scientific observations.
1959Times Lit. Suppl. 31 July 441/2 Proper consideration of evidence, allowance for observer-error, the clarification of language as a communicative medium—these..are the barriers which stand between us and the irrational abyss. 1970G. Greer Female Eunuch 90 It takes another psychiatrist to explain to her the function of observer bias. 1971Brit. Med. Bull. XXVII. 6/1 Observer variability has also been shown to be a significant factor in errors in blood-pressure readings. Ibid. 8/1 There was little evidence to suggest variation between observers or observer bias.
5. One who makes a verbal observation or remark.
1724Swift Drapier's Lett. Wks. 1755 V. ii. 93 The maxim of common observers, that those who meddle in matters out of their calling, will have reason to repent.
Hence obˈservership, the office or position of Observer (sense 4 a above).
1839J. B. Mozley Lett. 3 Apr. (1885) 90 Johnson of Magdalen Hall is standing for the place of Radcliffe Observer, vacant by Rigaud's death..any one can stand for the Observership, whereas it must be an M.A. for the other [sc. the Professorship]. |