observancen.
/əbˈzəːvns/, U.S. /əbˈzərv(ə)ns/ 1. An action, esp. of a religious or ceremonial nature, performed in accordance with prescribed usage; a customary action, ceremony, or ritual; a custom; an act performed in accordance with social convention. Formerly (also): †a necessary or obligatory action, practice, etc. (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > [noun] > instance or form of
churchOE
servicelOE
rightlOE
observancea1250
officec1300
preachingc1350
ritec1350
ceremonyc1380
usea1382
prayerc1384
form1399
ordinancea1400
ordera1425
worship?a1425
worshippingc1443
common prayer1493
common servicea1500
ordinarya1513
celebrity1534
church servicea1555
religious exercise1560
function1564
agend1581
church office1581
liturgy1593
Common Prayer service1648
ritualities1648
ceremonial1672
hierurgy1678
occasion1761
religiosities1834
cursus1865
joss-pidgin1886
worship service1929
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > a habit or practice > of a formal kind
observancea1250
rite?a1475
office1535
ritual1611
society > society and the community > customs, values, and civilization > customs, values, or beliefs of a society or group > [noun] > custom of a society or group > formal
observancea1250
observationa1382
rite?a1475
ritual1611
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 11 Heo voleweð her ase in oþre obseruaunces muchel of vre ordre.
c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1045 For to doon his obseruaunce to May.
c1395 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 1548 Preyse who so wole a wedded mannes lyf, Certeyn I fynde in it but cost and care And obseruances.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 894 (MED) For a remembraunce, A rite þei holde and an observaunce At his exequies.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn 3982 Thurh-oute all our marchis it is the observaunce.
a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 124 (MED) People..of panyme religion..vsed suche obseruaunces and called their goddes the avengers of evill dedis and rewarders of all good dedis.
1541 T. Elyot Image of Gouernance xxxix. f. 101 They all confessed..that suche landes as they had, were seruile, as for the whiche they were bounden to certayn obseruances.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost i. i. 36 There are other strickt obseruances: As not to see a woman in that terme,..And one day in a weeke to touch no foode. View more context for this quotation
a1625 J. Fletcher Chances iii. iv. 14/1 in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Bbb3v What Faith have I broke? In what observance failed?
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite i, in Fables 7 To do th' Observance due to sprightly May.
1789 J. Bentham Introd. Princ. Morals & Legisl. vi. p. lvi The female is rather more inclined than the male to superstition; that is, to observances not dictated by the principle of utility.
1850 N. Hawthorne Scarlet Let. iii. 76 It was the place whence proclamations were wont to be made..with all the ceremonial that attended such public observances in those days.
1878 H. James Watch & Ward ii. 30 He drew up a table of rules and observances for the child's health.
1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. xviii. 232 He began to evince considerable indifference to social forms and observances.
1925 W. Cather Professor's House i. v. 69 The cutting of the finger nails was a religious observance.
1974 E. Bowen Henry & Other Heroes v. 110 Both sides indulged in much calling of time, gathering in tight circles and breaking with shouts of ‘Let's go’! plus the other ritualistic observances of close play.
1992 Canad. Geographic July 53/1 They served various purposes, such as commemorating the dead, frightening away enemies..and anchoring spiritual observances such as communion with the Blackfoot creator and the spirits of the land.
2.
a. An ordinance, a code of behaviour, esp. the rule, or a regulation, of a religious order; spec. the rule of the Franciscan Observants. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [noun] > regulation > a regulation or rule
lawa1225
precepta1325
line1340
observancea1382
rulea1387
reglec1475
regimentc1485
reuglec1485
instruction1526
maxima1564
maxim1578
preception1620
reglement1622
positure1624
gnomon1627
regulationa1640
parapegm1646
rubric1891
reg1904
society > authority > command > command or bidding > [noun] > ordinance, prescription, or appointment > an ordinance or authoritative utterance > to be observed
observancea1382
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) 1 Chron. xxiii. 32 Kepe þei [sc. the Levites] þe obseruauncys of þe tabernacle.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 401 Þese ben þe observaunces þat semeþ hard in þat ordour: þei schal were no manere furres [etc.].
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 1401 Þe same obseruance þar þai avysed.
a1475 in J. O. Halliwell Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 7 In myne obserwans in dyveris wyse..I gow to my bede, I eyte no met tylle that I aryse, [etc.].
c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. lix/2 There he ded make friers of ye Obseruancis.
a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) ix. x. f. 311v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) Ordorit life of excellent reule and obseruans.
1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. iv. xi. 440 The Franciscans were divided into Conventual Friars and Friars of the strict Observance.
1834 Encycl. Brit. X. 221/1 Two large bodies, comprehending the whole Franciscan order, which subsist to this day; namely, the conventual brethren, and the brethren of the observance.
1930 F. J. Eble tr. H. Grisar Martin Luther ii. 46 Besides the monasteries of the congregation of the Observantines, there existed in Germany numerous other Augustinian monasteries which had not introduced the Observance.
b. Originally: a religious group observing a common rule. Also: spec. the Franciscan Observants; (rarely) an Observant friary. Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > monasticism > monk > [noun] > collectively
observancea1450
monkery1528
sangha1836
monkdom1850
a1450 Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 604 (MED) A n[o]bseruans of hermytes.
1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. fvij An obseruans of herimytes.
1876 R. Browning Pacchiarotto & Other Poems 27 Lately was coffered A corpse in its sepulchre, situate By St. John's Observance.
1914 M. Ward S. Bernadino iv. 35 The citizens built..a new church and large monastery of the Observance. The Observance was to grow very mightily in numbers.
1934 D. Devas St. Colette 26 The Collettine houses of the First Order were absorbed into the Observance at the time of Leo X's Bull in 1517.
1988 Oxf. Illustr. Encycl. III. 77/2 The [Cistercian] monks are now divided into two observances, a strict observance..and the common observance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [noun]
yemec893
carefulnessa1000
getec1175
gomec1175
tenta1300
curec1300
keepa1325
diligence1340
heed1357
tentivenessa1382
observancec1390
businessa1398
reasona1398
attendancec1400
resporta1413
curiosityc1430
mindingc1449
reckc1475
respect1509
regardshipa1513
looking unto1525
peradvertencea1529
looking toa1535
solicitudea1535
looking after?1537
solicitudeness1547
care1548
solicitnessc1550
caring1556
heedfulness1561
solicitateness1562
hofulness1566
regard1573
charishness1587
on-waiting1590
heediness1596
take-heed1596
respectiveness1598
observationa1616
solicitousness1636
heeding1678
curiousness1690
solicitation1693
attention1741
craftsmanship1850
c1390 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale 747 The auaricious man..dooth moore obseruance in kepynge of his tresor than..to the seruyse of Iesu Crist.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 82v And if it be not possible to þe þat þu defende it, cure it whatsoeuer y-be with his curacioun with obseruance.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 226 The consideracioun and the obseruaunce, awaite, and diligence which is to be had in such mater.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 18 Sute the action to the word, the word to the action, with this speciall obseruance, that you ore-steppe not the modestie of nature. View more context for this quotation
1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 119 This observance is absolutely necessary to Damask roses.
4.
a. More generally: the action or practice of following or respecting a particular law or of fulfilling a duty, etc.; adherence or due regard to a particular custom, practice, principle, etc. Usually with of. Formerly also (rarely) in plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > carrying out > observance or carrying out a promise, law, etc. > [noun]
fulfilling1340
keepingc1380
observancea1393
observation?a1425
solemnityc1440
observing1458
conservation1544
observancy1609
the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [noun]
i-kepyngec1230
heed1357
keepingc1380
observancea1393
observation?a1425
contemplation1440
observing1458
conscience1483
conservation1544
heedfulness1561
heediness1596
religion1597
observancy1609
punctualness1620
punctuality1622
heeding1678
adherence1715
society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > [noun] > observance of
celebrationa1533
celebrating1547
observance1785
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 1707 Fyf pointz, whiche he hath undertake To kepe and holde in observance.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 122v Among þe Ebrewis, me takeþ most hede of obseruaunce of þe ȝere of þe moone.
c1450 Three Kings Cologne (BL Add.) l. 471 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1912) 129 61 (MED) Prestes..were enformede in the obseruaunce Of messis saynge.
a1500 (?c1425) Speculum Sacerdotale (1936) 225 (MED) Þere beþ iiii maner of helpyngis þat profitteþ to the dede: scilicet, prayers of true Cristen peple, sacrifice of the sacrament, obseruance of fastyngis, and ȝyuynge of almes.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Di As dois the mwnkkis and freris in the obseruance of thair tradicions.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. v. sig. Dd4 In streight obseruaunce of religious vow. View more context for this quotation
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iv. 18 It is a custome, more honourd in the breach, Then in the obseruance.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης ix. 85 Under the colour of a blind and litteral observance to an Oath.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding i. iii. 17 Every one should..recommend, and magnifie those Rules to others, from whose observance of them, he is sure to reap Advantage to himself.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison IV. x. 78 Your own reason..shall..direct your observances of my advice.
1785 W. Paley Moral & Polit. Philos. (1827) v. viii. 94/2 To comply with the religious observance of Sunday.
1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 70 The observance of this festival..continues three or four days.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. viii. 89 The safety of the whole company exacts the sternest observance of discipline.
1918 A. G. Gardiner Leaves in Wind 230 It is in the small matters of conduct, in the observance of the rule of the road, that we pass judgment upon ourselves.
1994 GATT Negotiations (Internat. Chamber of Commerce, Paris) Its purpose is to contribute to improved observance by all members of the rules.
b. The action or practice of conforming to the requirements of prescribed rituals, ceremonies, etc.; spec. the performance of prescribed rites of worship, or of traditional and customary religious rituals and ceremonies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > carrying out > observance or carrying out a promise, law, etc. > [noun] > a ritual or ceremony
observationa1382
observancea1450
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > [noun] > performance of
with or in (great, etc.) solemnityc1290
solemnity1390
solemnization1447
observancea1450
solennizationc1450
solemnation1470
celebration1483
superstition1513
ministration1535
celebrating1547
solemnizing1565
ministering1566
solemnize1590
solemniation1631
officiating1640
exercise1656
exercitation1660
officiation1804
altar service1831
ritual1865
the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [noun] > religious, ceremonial, etc.
observancea1450
keeping1573
phylactery1645
a1450 Rule St. Benet (Vesp.) (1902) 282 (MED) Men or wemen of wilful mode..order of religion takes, And al obseruaunce..syne for-sakes.
c1475 (?c1400) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 432 (MED) Observaunce in lyves of fadris profytede to many men þat brouȝte hem to hevene.
a1500 Rule Minoresses in W. W. Seton Two 15th Cent. Franciscan Rules (1914) 98 (MED) Þey mowen bi þe forseyde avowe of regulere obseruaunce helþe in sowle & bodi haue in þis worlde.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. A2 Dayly Sacrifices, and free will Offerings; The one proceeding vpon ordinarie obseruance [L. ex rituali cultu]; The other vppon a deuout cheerefulnesse. View more context for this quotation
1812 H. Smith & J. Smith Rejected Addr. 100 The scenes of Shakspeare and our bards of old, With due observance splendidly unfold.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §5. 509 The King's first acts were directed rather to points of outer observance.
1980 M. Thelwell Harder they Come ii. 75 A large and spectacular funeral followed by eight days of sober observance and silent vigil.
2000 S. Broughton et al. World Music: Rough Guide II. i. 80/2 Music for personal and private devotional observance, sabha or paying concert performances have somewhat blurred these distinctions.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > respectful attention
observancec1425
court1590
courtship1597
attendancya1600
observancy1601
observation1605
courting1607
assiduity1641
observantness1727
peculiarity1747
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 3815 (MED) Þei..entre..þe chapel..Withoute reuerence or deuocioun Don to Venus..For it was clene oute of her memorie, Honour and drede & alle obseruaunce.
c1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite 218 Whoso trewest is..doth her observaunce Alwey ti oon, and chaungeth for no newe.
c1475 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 139 (MED) Before owre souereyne lorde ihesu..I..wolle be, trew Wythe alle my wylle and obcervaunce.
c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) cxxiii Quhare Is becummyn,..The besy awayte, the hertly obseruance, That quhilum was amongis thame so ryf?
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. xxvij Of his bounden duetie & obseruaunce, which he ought to the kyng hys master.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 250 Adamanus; quhome, honourit and did gret obseruans to, haile Britannie.
1647 Prince Charles Lewis in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. III. 334 I will never forget the personal respect and observance I doe owe you.
1741 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero II. viii. 230 He attached himself very early to the observance of Cicero.
1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice I. xix. 241 Mr. Collins made his declaration... He set about it in a very orderly manner, with all the observances which he supposed a regular part of the business. View more context for this quotation
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 3 He compass'd her with sweet observances And worship.
1880 ‘M. Twain’ Tramp Abroad xvii. 152 But the tramp gave them [sc. the emperor's daughters] no observance.
6. The action of observing, noticing, or paying attention to what is said or done; an instance of this; = observation n. 5. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > [noun]
marka1400
notea1400
notinga1427
markingc1443
viewc1450
noticec1487
observation1547
observancy1567
animadversion1573
observance1602
remark1614
remarking?1626
notification1659
observala1734
observe1830
1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida i. sig. Cv Vouchsafe me then your hush't obseruances.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 229 Take a taste of my finding him, and rellish it with good obseruance . View more context for this quotation
a1640 P. Massinger & J. Fletcher Very Woman v. i. 14 in P. Massinger 3 New Playes (1655) I pass'd, And pried in every place without observance.
1732 D. Neal Hist. Puritans I. 22 The Popish party..put him upon a nice observance of her carriage.
1816 J. Austen Emma III. xii. 216 She should see them henceforward with the closest observance . View more context for this quotation
1859 J. Ruskin Two Paths iv. 156 Consider how much intellect was needed in the architect, and how much observance of nature.
1993 B. Neil Possession of Delia Sutherland (BNC) 70 Her baby's motionless observance of me observing his mother must have woken her.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1250