Obsoletism noun A disused word or phrase; an archaism. Fitzed. Hall.

Obstacle noun [ French, from Latin obstaculum , from obstare to withstand, oppose; ob (see Ob- ) + stare to stand. See Stand . and confer Oust , v. ] That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction, physical or moral.

If all obstacles were cut away.
And that my path were even to the crown.

Shak.

Syn. -- Impediment; obstuction; hindrance; difficulty. See Impediment , and Obstruction .

Obstancy noun [ Latin obstantia , from obstans , present participle of obstare . See Obstacle .] Opposition; impediment; obstruction. [ Obsolete] B. Jonson.

Obstetric, Obstetrical adjective [ Latin obstetricius , from obstetrix , -icis , a midwife, from obstare to stand before: confer French obstétrique . See Obstacle .] Of or pertaining to midwifery, or the delivery of women in childbed; as, the obstetric art.

Obstetrical toad (Zoology) , a European toad of the genus Alytes , especially A. obstetricans . The eggs are laid in a string which the male winds around his legs, and carries about until the young are hatched.

Obstetricate intransitive verb [ Latin obstetricatus , past participle of obstetricare , from obstetrix .] To perform the office of midwife. [ Obsolete] "Nature does obstetricate ." Evelyn.

Obstetricate transitive verb To assist as a midwife. [ Obsolete] E. Waterhouse.

Obstetrication noun The act of assisting as a midwife; delivery. [ Obsolete] Bp. Hall.

Obstetrician noun One skilled in obstetrics; an accoucheur.

Obstetricious adjective [ See Obstetric .] Serving to assist childbirth; obstetric; hence, facilitating any bringing forth or deliverance. [ Obsolete]

Yet is all human teaching but maieutical, or obstetricious .

Cudworth.

Obstetrics noun [ Confer French obstétrique . See Obstetric .] The science of midwifery; the art of assisting women in parturition, or in the trouble incident to childbirth.

Obstetricy noun Obstetrics. [ R.] Dunglison.

Obstinacy noun [ See Obstinate .]
1. A fixedness in will, opinion, or resolution that can not be shaken at all, or only with great difficulty; firm and usually unreasonable adherence to an opinion, purpose, or system; unyielding disposition; stubborness; pertinacity; persistency; contumacy.

You do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract.

Shak.

To shelter their ignorance, or obstinacy , under the obscurity of their terms.

Locke.

2. The quality or state of being difficult to remedy, relieve, or subdue; as, the obstinacy of a disease or evil.

Syn. -- Pertinacity; firmness; resoluteness; inflexibility; persistency; stubbornness; perverseness; contumacy. -- Obstinacy , Pertinacity . Pertinacity denotes great firmness in holding to a thing, aim, etc. Obstinacy is great firmness in holding out against persuasion, attack, etc. The former consists in adherence, the latter in resistance. An opinion is advocated with pertinacity or defended with obstinacy . Pertinacity is often used in a good sense; obstinacy generally in a bad one. "In this reply was included a very gross mistake, and if with pertinacity maintained, a capital error." Sir T. Browne. "Every degree of obstinacy in youth is one step to rebellion." South.

Obstinate adjective [ Latin obstinatus , past participle of obstinare to set about a thing with firmness, to persist in; ob (see Ob- ) + a word from the root of stare to stand. See Stand , and confer Destine .]
1. Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; -- usually implying unreasonableness.

I have known great cures done by obstinate resolution of drinking no wine.

Sir W. Temple.

No ass so meek, no ass so obstinate .

Pope.

Of sense and outward things.

Wordsworth.

2. Not yielding; not easily subdued or removed; as, obstinate fever; obstinate obstructions.

Syn. -- Stubborn; inflexible; immovable; firm; pertinacious; persistent; headstrong; opinionated; unyielding; refractory; contumacious. See Stubborn .

-- Ob"sti*nate*ly , adverb -- Ob"sti*nate*ness , noun

Obstination noun [ Latin obstinatio .] Obstinacy; stubbornness. [ Obsolete] Jer. Taylor.

Obstipation noun [ Latin obstipatio a close pressure; ob (see Ob- ) + stipare to press.]
1. The act of stopping up, as a passage. [ Obsolete] Bailey.

2. (Medicine) Extreme constipation. [ Obsolete] Hooper.

Obstreperous adjective [ Latin obstreperus , from obstrepere to make a noise at; ob (see Ob- ) + strepere to make a noise.] Attended by, or making, a loud and tumultuous noise; clamorous; noisy; vociferous. "The obstreperous city." Wordsworth. " Obstreperous approbation." Addison.

Beating the air with their obstreperous beaks.

B. Jonson.

-- Ob*strep"er*ous*ly , adverb -- Ob*strep"er*ous*ness , noun

Obstriction noun [ Latin obstringere , obstrictum , to bind to or about.] The state of being constrained, bound, or obliged; that which constrains or obliges; obligation; bond. [ R.] Milton.

Obstringe transitive verb [ See Obstriction .] To constrain; to put under obligation. [ R.] Bp. Gardiner.

Obstruct transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Obstructed ; present participle & verbal noun Obstructing .] [ Latin obstructus , past participle of obstruere to build up before or against, to obstruct; ob (see Ob- ) + struere to pile up. See Structure .]

1. To block up; to stop up or close, as a way or passage; to place an obstacle in, or fill with obstacles or impediments that prevent or hinder passing; as, to obstruct a street; to obstruct the channels of the body.

'T is the obstructed paths of sound shall clear.

Pope.

2. To be, or come, in the way of; to hinder from passing; to stop; to impede; to retard; as, the bar in the harbor obstructs the passage of ships; clouds obstruct the light of the sun; unwise rules obstruct legislation. "Th' impatience of obstructed love." Johnson.

Syn. -- To bar; barricade; stop; arrest; check; interrupt; clog; choke; impede; retard; embarrass; oppose.

Obstructer noun One who obstructs or hinders.

Obstruction noun [ Latin obstructio .]

1. The act of obstructing, or state of being obstructed.

2. That which obstructs or impedes; an obstacle; an impediment; a hindrance.

A popular assembly free from obstruction .

Swift.

3. The condition of having the natural powers obstructed in their usual course; the arrest of the vital functions; death. [ Poetic]

To die, and go we know not where,
To lie in cold obstruction , and to rot.

Shak.

Syn. -- Obstacle ; bar; barrier; impediment; clog; check; hindrance. -- Obstruction , Obstacle . The difference between these words is that indicated by their etymology; an obstacle is something standing in the way; an obstruction is something put in the way. Obstacle implies more fixedness and is the stronger word. We remove obstructions ; we surmount obstacles .

Disparity in age seems a greater obstacle to an intimate friendship than inequality of fortune.

Collier.

The king expected to meet with all the obstructions and difficulties his enraged enemies could lay in his way.

Clarendon.

Obstructionism noun The act or the policy of obstructing progress. Lond. Lit. World.

Obstructionist noun One who hinders progress; one who obstructs business, as in a legislative body. -- adjective Of or pertaining to obstructionists. [ Recent]

Obstructive adjective [ Confer F. obstrictif .] Tending to obstruct; presenting obstacles; hindering; causing impediment. -- Ob*struct"ive*ly , adverb

Obstructive noun An obstructive person or thing.

Obstruent adjective [ Latin obstruens , present participle of obstruere . See Obstruct .] Causing obstruction; blocking up; hindering; as, an obstruent medicine. Johnson.

Obstruent noun Anything that obstructs or closes a passage; esp., that which obstructs natural passages in the body; as, a medicine which acts as an obstruent .

Obstupefaction noun [ Latin obstuperfacere to stupefy.] See Stupefaction . [ Obsolete] Howell.

Obstupefactive adjective Stupefactive. [ Obsolete]

Obstupefy transitive verb [ Confer L. obstupefacere . See Ob- , and Stupefy .] See Stupefy . [ Obsolete]

Obtain transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Obtained ; present participle & verbal noun Obtaining .] [ French obtenir , Latin obtinere ; ob (see Ob- ) + tenere to hold. See Tenable .]

1. To hold; to keep; to possess. [ Obsolete]

His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire
He who obtains the monarchy of heaven.

Milton.

2. To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way.

Some pray for riches; riches they obtain .

Dryden.

By guileful fair words peace may be obtained .

Shak.

It may be that I may obtain children by her.

Gen. xvi. 2.

Syn. -- To attain; gain; procure; acquire; win; earn. See Attain . -- To Obtain , Get , Gain , Earn , Acquire . The idea of getting is common to all these terms. We may, indeed, with only a slight change of sense, substitute get for either of them; as, to get or to gain a prize; to get or to obtain an employment; to get or to earn a living; to get or to acquire a language. To gain is to get by striving; and as this is often a part of our good fortune, the word gain is peculiarly applicable to whatever comes to us fortuitously. Thus, we gain a victory, we gain a cause, we gain an advantage, etc. To earn is to deserve by labor or service; as, to earn good wages; to earn a triumph. Unfortunately, one does not always get or obtain what he has earned . To obtain implies desire for possession, and some effort directed to the attainment of that which is not immediately within our reach. Whatever we thus seek and get , we obtain , whether by our own exertions or those of others; whether by good or bad means; whether permanently, or only for a time. Thus, a man obtains an employment; he obtains an answer to a letter, etc. To acquire is more limited and specific. We acquire what comes to us gradually in the regular exercise of our abilities, while we obtain what comes in any way, provided we desire it. Thus, we acquire knowledge, property, honor, reputation, etc. What we acquire becomes, to a great extent, permanently our own; as, to acquire a language; to acquire habits of industry, etc.

Obtain intransitive verb
1. To become held; to gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized or established; to subsist; to become prevalent or general; to prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer.

Sobriety hath by use obtained to signify temperance in drinking.

Jer. Taylor.

The Theodosian code, several hundred years after Justinian's time, did obtain in the western parts of Europe.

Baker.

2. To prevail; to succeed. [ R.] Evelyn.

So run that ye may obtain .

1 Cor. ix. 24.

There is due from the judge to the advocate, some commendation, where causes are fair pleaded; especially towards the side which obtaineth not.

Bacon.

Obtain intransitive verb To gain or have a firm footing; to become recognized or established; to become or be prevalent or general; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer.

Obtainable adjective Capable of being obtained.

Obtainer noun One who obtains.

Obtainment noun The act or process of obtaining; attainment. Milton.

Obtected adjective [ Latin obtectus , past participle of obtegere to cover over.]
1. Covered; protected. [ Obsolete]

2. (Zoology) Covered with a hard chitinous case, as the pupa of certain files.

Obtemper transitive verb & i. [ See Obtemperate .] (Scots Law) To obey (a judgment or decree).

Obtemperate transitive verb [ Latin obtemperare , obtemperatum to obey.] To obey. [ Obsolete] Johnson.

Obtend transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Obtended ; present participle & verbal noun Obtending .] [ Latin obtendere , obtentum , to stretch or place before or against; ob (see Ob- ) + tendere to stretch.]
1. To oppose; to hold out in opposition. [ Obsolete] Dryden.

2. To offer as the reason of anything; to pretend. [ Obsolete] Dryden

Obtenebration noun [ Latin obtenebrate to make dark.] The act of darkening; the state of being darkened; darkness. [ Obsolete]

In every megrim or vertigo, there is an obtenebration joined with a semblance of turning round.

Bacon.

Obtension noun [ Latin obtentio . See Obtend .] The act of obtending. [ Obsolete] Johnson.

Obtest transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Obtested ; present participle & verbal noun Obtesting .] [ Latin obtestari ; ob (see Ob- ) + testari to witness, from testis a witness.]
1. To call to witness; to invoke as a witness. [ R.] Dryden.

2. To beseech; to supplicate; to beg for. [ R.]

Obtest intransitive verb To protest. [ R.] E. Waterhouse.

Obtestation noun [ Latin obtestatio .] The act of obtesting; supplication; protestation. [ R.]

Antonio asserted this with great obtestation .

Evelyn.

Obtrectation noun [ Latin obtrectatio , from obtrectare to detract from through envy. See Detract .] Slander; detraction; calumny. [ Obsolete] Barrow.

Obtrude transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Obtruded , present participle & verbal noun Obtruding .] [ Latin obtrudere , obtrusum ; ob (see Ob- ) + trudere to thrust. See Threat .]
1. To thrust impertinently; to present without warrant or solicitation; as, to obtrude one's self upon a company.

The objects of our senses obtrude their particular ideas upon our minds, whether we will or no.

Lock.

2. To offer with unreasonable importunity; to urge unduly or against the will. Milton.

Obtrude intransitive verb To thrust one's self upon a company or upon attention; to intrude.

Syn. -- To Obtrude , Intrude . To intrude is to thrust one's self into a place, society, etc., without right, or uninvited; to obtrude is to force one's self, remarks, opinions, etc., into society or upon persons with whom one has no such intimacy as to justify such boldness.

Obtruder noun One who obtrudes. Boyle.

Obtruncate transitive verb [ Latin obtruncatus , past participle of obtruncare .] To deprive of a limb; to lop. [ R.]