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n. [ Bob + stay. ] (Naut.) A rope or chain to confine the bowsprit of a ship downward to the stem or cutwater; -- usually in the pl. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ LL. camera chamber + L. obscurus, obscura, dark. ] (Opt.) 1. An apparatus in which the images of external objects, formed by a convex lens or a concave mirror, are thrown on a paper or other white surface placed in the focus of the lens or mirror within a darkened chamber, or box, so that the outlines may be traced. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Photog.) An apparatus in which the image of an external object or objects is, by means of lenses, thrown upon a sensitized plate or surface placed at the back of an extensible darkened box or chamber variously modified; -- commonly called simply the camera. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. See Clare-obscure. ] See Chiaroscuro. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. clarus clear + obscurus obscure; cf. F. clair-obscur. Cf. Chiaroscuro. ] (Painting) See Chiaroscuro. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Chiaroscuro. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Cobblestone. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A large swan. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To remove obstructions or impediments in; to clear from anything that hinders the passage of fluids; as, to deobstruct the pores or lacteals. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Removing obstructions; having power to clear or open the natural ducts of the fluids and secretions of the body; aperient. -- n. (Med.) A medicine which removes obstructions; an aperient. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The aquatic larva of a large neuropterous insect (Corydalus cornutus), used as bait in angling. See Hellgamite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gob mouth + stick. ] 1. (Angling) A stick or device for removing the hook from a fish's gullet.

He . . . wrenched out the hook with the short wooden stick he called a “gobstick.” Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A spoon. [ Prov. Eng. or Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

A choice without an alternative; the thing offered or nothing. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is said to have had its origin in the name of one Hobson, at Cambridge, England, who let horses, and required every customer to take in his turn the horse which stood next the stable door. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inobservabilis : cf. F. inobservable. See In- not, and Observable. ] Not observable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inobservantia : cf. F. inobservance. ] Lack or neglect of observance. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inobservans. See In- not, and Observant. ] Not observant; regardless; heedless. Bp. Hurd.

-- In`ob*serv"ant*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Cf. F. inobservation. ] Neglect or lack of observation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who refuses to join, or withdraws from, a trade union. [ Cant, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stick, cane, or club terminating in a knob; esp., such a stick or club used as a weapon or missile; a knobkerrie. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Written also lobscourse from which lobscouse is corrupted. ] [ Lob + course. ] (Naut.) A combination of meat with vegetables, bread, etc., usually stewed, sometimes baked; an olio. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Lopsided. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Lob + pound a prison. ] A prison. [ Obs. ] Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. loppestre, lopystre prob., corrupted fr. L. locusta a marine shellfish, a kind of lobster, a locust. Cf. Locust. ] (Zool.) 1. Any large macrurous crustacean used as food, esp. those of the genus Homarus; as the American lobster (Homarus Americanus), and the European lobster (Homarus vulgaris). The Norwegian lobster (Nephrops Norvegicus) is similar in form. All these have a pair of large unequal claws. The spiny lobsters of more southern waters, belonging to Palinurus, Panulirus, and allied genera, have no large claws. The fresh-water crayfishes are sometimes called lobsters. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. As a term of opprobrium or contempt: A gullible, awkward, bungling, or undesirable person. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Lobster caterpillar (Zool.), the caterpillar of a European bombycid moth (Stauropus fagi); -- so called from its form.
Lobster louse (Zool.), a copepod crustacean (Nicothoë astaci) parasitic on the gills of the European lobster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (American History) A British soldier in the 1700's; -- so-called because of his red coat, esp. during the American Revolutionary War.
Syn. -- redcoat. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. (American History) Of or pertaining to British soldiers during the Revolutionary War in America; -- so called because of their red coats.
Syn. -- red-coated. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a device used to trap lobsters, consisting of a semi-cylindrical structure made of wooden slats, with openings formed of funnel-shaped nets allowing lobsters to enter, but impeding their exit. It is also called a lobster trap. [ PJC ]

n. a dish of lobster meat cooked with a rich creamy wine sauce, stuffed back into the lobster shell, sprinkled with grated cheese, and browned. [ PJC ]

n. same as lobster pot. [ PJC ]

n. 1. Any of several cold-water lobsters with large tender claws, caught from Maine to the Carolinas.
Syn. -- American lobster, Northern lobster. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A lobster (Homarus americanus) found off the Atlantic coast of North America.
Syn. -- American lobster, Northern lobster, Homarus americanus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Mal- + observation. ] Erroneous observation. J. S Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To observe inaccurately; to mistake in observing. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who misobserves; one who fails to observe properly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Neglect or failure to observe or fulfill. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L. ] 1. Notwithstanding; in opposition to, or in spite of, what has been stated, or is to be stated or admitted. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A clause in old English statutes and letters patent, importing a license from the crown to do a thing notwithstanding any statute to the contrary. This dispensing power was abolished by the Bill of Rights. [ 1913 Webster ]

In this very reign [ Henry III. ] the practice of dispensing with statutes by a non obstante was introduced. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

Non obstante veredicto [ LL. ] (Law), a judgment sometimes entered by order of the court, for the plaintiff, notwithstanding a verdict for the defendant. Stephen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. obscenus, obscaenus, obscoenus, ill looking, filthy, obscene: cf. F. obscéne. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Offensive to chastity or modesty; expressing or presenting to the mind or view something which delicacy, purity, and decency forbid to be exposed; impure; as, obscene language; obscene pictures. [ 1913 Webster ]

Words that were once chaste, by frequent use grew obscene and uncleanly. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Foul; fifthy; disgusting. [ 1913 Webster ]

A girdle foul with grease binds his obscene attire. Dryden (Aeneid, vi. 417). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Inauspicious; ill-omened. [ R. ] [ A Latinism ] [ 1913 Webster ]

At the cheerful light,
The groaning ghosts and birds obscene take flight. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Impure; immodest; indecent; unchaste; lewd. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Ob*scene"ly, adv. -- Ob*scene"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Obscenities [ L. obscentias: cf. F. obscénité. ] That quality in words or things which presents what is offensive to chastity or purity of mind; obscene or impure lanquage or acts; moral impurity; lewdness; obsceneness; as, the obscenity of a speech, or a picture. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mr. Cowley asserts plainly, that obscenity has no place in wit. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

No pardon vile obscenity should find. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obscurans, p. pr. of obscurare to obscure. ] One who obscures; one who prevents enlightenment or hinders the progress of knowledge and wisdom. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The system or the principles of the obscurants. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Obscurant. Ed. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obscurativ: cf. F. obscuration. See Obscure, v. t. ] The act or operation of obscuring; the state of being obscured; as, the obscuration of the moon in an eclipse. Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Obscurer superl. Obscurest. ] [ L. obscurus, orig., covered; ob- (see Ob-) + a root probably meaning, to cover; cf. L. scutum shield, Skr. sku to cover: cf. F. obscur. Cf. Sky. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Covered over, shaded, or darkened; destitute of light; imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim. [ 1913 Webster ]

His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Prov. xx. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to the sight; indistinctly seen; hidden; retired; remote from observation; unnoticed. [ 1913 Webster ]

The obscure bird
Clamored the livelong night. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The obscure corners of the earth. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not noticeable; humble; mean. “O base and obscure vulgar.” Shak. “An obscure person.” Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not easily understood; not clear or legible; abstruse or incomprehensible; as, an obscure passage or inscription. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Not clear, full, or distinct; clouded; imperfect; as, an obscure view of remote objects. [ 1913 Webster ]

Obscure rays (Opt.), those rays which are not luminous or visible, and which in the spectrum are beyond the limits of the visible portion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Dark; dim; darksome; dusky; shadowy; misty; abstruse; intricate; difficult; mysterious; retired; unnoticed; unknown; humble; mean; indistinct. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obscured p. pr. & vb. n. Obscuring. ] [ L. obscurare, fr. obscurus: cf. OF. obscurer. See Obscure, a. ] To render obscure; to darken; to make dim; to keep in the dark; to hide; to make less visible, intelligible, legible, glorious, beautiful, or illustrious. [ 1913 Webster ]

They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak, with obscured lights. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why, 't is an office of discovery, love,
And I should be obscured. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is scarce any duty which has been so obscured by the writings of learned men as this. Wake. [ 1913 Webster ]

And seest not sin obscures thy godlike frame? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To conceal one's self; to hide; to keep dark. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

How! There's bad news.
I must obscure, and hear it. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Obscurity. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an obscure manner. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of obscuring, or the state of being obscured; obscuration. Pomfret. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Obscurity. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, obscures. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obscuritas: cf. F. obscurité. ] The quality or state of being obscure.
Syn. -- darkness; privacy; inconspicuousness; unintelligibleness; uncertainty. [ 1913 Webster ]

You are not for obscurity designed. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

They were now brought forth from obscurity, to be contemplated by artists with admiration and despair. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Darkness; dimness; gloom. See Darkness. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. obsecrated p. pr. & vb. n. obsecrating. ] [ L. obsecratus, p. p. of obsecrare, prop., to ask on religious grounds; ob (see Ob-) + sacrare to declare as sacred, from sacer sacred. ] To beseech; to supplicate; to implore. [ R. ]. Cockerman. [ 1913 Webster ]