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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Observe, v. Also: obserwe, -serf(f, -seref. P.p. observit etc., also observat(e. [ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E. observe, OF. observer (10th c. in Godef. Compl.), L. observāre p.p. observāt-us.]

1. tr. To follow, adhere to or abide by in practice (anything prescribed or established, as a condition, mode of action, custom, etc.).Passing into sense 2. 1477 Stewart Mem. 75.
That all thir conditions, appointmentis … sal be lelely and trewly obseruit 1477 Edinb. Chart. 141. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 21/17.
The Pape is nocht aboue thire lawis bot oblist to kepe and obserue thaim 1493 Maxwell Mem. I. 205.
Obserff c1515 Asl. MS. I. 329/18.
To obserue the vij deidis of cherite 1526 Lennox Mun. 227.
Obserf 1531 Bell. Boece II. 329.
Consuetude was observat in josing of thir landis be Scotland Id. Livy I. 33/26.
That nowthir faith band nor promisis suld be observate to ane tratoure Ib. 44/7. 1551 Acts II. 482/1.
The trew and godlie faith euer hiddertillis … inuiolablie obseruit and keipit 1562-3 Winȝet I. 115/19. 1566 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 225.
It … hes bene inviolablie obserwit within … Scotland … that all scheip war flane throuche to the luggis 1567 G. Ball. 91.
Quhateuer he be, that weill obseruis this, Sall neuer perische 1571 Bk. Carlaverock II. 481.
Thatt the lowabbill vs and costom of our forbears be obserwitt and kepitt amang ws 1576 Orkney Oppress. 40.
The laird of Cultemalindie … hes not observit the auld order … bot hes alterit … the cowp and pryces 1587 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 25 Apr.
Prouiding that thai obseref … the hedis … contenit in the said contract 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Particata.
That the measurers of land … obserue and keepe ane juste relation betuixt the length and the bredth of the measures 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 160.
The commoun law of this kingdome daylie obseruet 1649 Elgin Rec. II. 432.
The want off a richt method and way to be obserwed in teacheing

b. To celebrate duly, solemnise (a religious service, rite or ceremony); also, to practise (a religious usage). 1482 Edinb. Chart. 146.
The said mariage … salbe … obseruet kepit and accomplesit 1490 Irland Mir. I. 33/6.
The Kyrk has … ordand the devin seruice to grow … jn this forme as we obserue c 1500 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I. 259.
Thame that obseruis nocht thar ceremonijs in tyme of devin seruice to be notit at the oukis end 1513 Doug. iii. viii.80. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 150/15.
Obet mes was obserwit and vsit in the Kirk of God thretteyn hundreth ȝeir syne 1562-3 Winȝet I. 83/4.

c. To celebrate regularly, continue to keep (a festival etc.). 1505–6 Mill Mediæv. Plays 120.
The saide craftismen … sale perpetualie … obserue & keipe the saide processioun als honorabily as thai cane 1531 Bell. Boece II. 164.
Festuall and solempne days … sal be observit siclik as the Kirk hes institute 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 69/19.
The Christian people … keapes and obserwes the halye dayes of the martyres

2. To maintain intact, unchanged or in good order, to preserve, not to allow to lapse or decline. 1451 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I. 163.
At he obserue and keipe the landymeris and merchis of the said landis as thai war deuidit 1478 Acts Aud. 61/1.
Till obserue & warant the said landis of the Toftis as he aucht to do 1479 Acta Conc. I. 43/2.
Henry sall enter … maister Gawan to the saide tak & obserue & keip the samyn to him efter the forme of his letter 1491 Acts II. 224/2.
That the forme of chancellary be obseruit and kepit without innouacioun 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 213.
Obserf a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 256 (Asl.).
Men suld … teche thair childer … Thair innocens [to] obserf ay but outrage 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 362.
Of Virgillis vers the ornate bewte Intill our tung may nocht obseruyt be 1515 Acts II. 282/2.
That the fredomes, priuilegeis … of halie Kirk … be obseruit and keipit in honour and worschip 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 396.
Kepand and observand commond passage be the said brig … to all pepill 1533 Boece ix. x. 310 b.
[He] was gevin to obserue lawte and fidelite with Scottis and Pichtis 1564 Peebles B. Rec. I. 294.
That the liberte of the toune maie be obserwit 1570–1 Canongate Ct. Bk. 323.
Quhilkis marches the baillie … ordanis to be observit … as iustlie and richtuuslie lynit 1594 Grant Chart. 186.
That thai … sall obserue and keip the Kingis maiesties peace 1596 Dalr. I. 131/12.
Thir armes we knawe evir his eftircumeris to haue obseruet 1622-6 Bisset II. 271/29.
That all the commoun guid … be observed and keiped to the commoun proffett 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xcvii.
That this our vnion and conjunction may be observed without violation, wee call … God … to witnesse

3. a. To watch over, guard, keep safe. 1513 Doug. ii. xii. 6.
At the porchis … of Juno … stude … wardanys tway Forto observe and keip the spreth or pray 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 45.
King Fergus … gaif the samyn [charters] to maist religious preistis, to be obseruit in thair tempillis 1535 Stewart 15636. 1538 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 199.
Ane schrine to obserf and keip our common seall, chartour [etc.]

b. To retain, reserve. 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II. 126.
The house of Dunnure quhilk oure soverane lordis … regent for the tyme myndit to have observit and kepit to the behuif of his hienes

4. To pay attention to, take note of, mark, notice, remark. Also absol. and ?reflex. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 24 marg.
Obserue this, o ȝe … slaueis of ȝour awin phantasie 1567 G. Ball. 98.
The wickit dois obserue the innocent, To seik to slay him c1590 Fowler II. 102/8.
Pape Juley … observing … the vnhappie yssew of his mercenarye armye 1587-99 Hume 78/331.
Obserue this realme throughout … if any be opprest 1596 Dalr. I. 62/11.
This in lyke maner wil preiue the sentence [sc. concerning the barnacle goose] of Hect. Boyis to be true quhilk eftir his depairting we observet on his behalfe 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 205.
This efternoone I observit the gild brether in the tolbuth quha regratis verie heivilie that thay ar trublit efter this forme 1623 Blair Autob. 44.
I … observed then that in it [a passage referred to] there was no mention of [etc.]absol. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 54 marg.
Obserue, o forgearis of new phantaseis Ib. 45 marg., 58 marg., etc.? reflex. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 18 marg.
Obserue you [but ? read: thou] quhasoeuir wald perseuere a Catholik

5. Erron. used as a synonym for Kepe v. 15 a, Hald v. 12 a. — 1482 Edinb. Chart. 155.
That we … sal keip, obserue, hald, defend, warand and freith the saidis provest [etc.] … harmles and scaithles for euirmare