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r, hast set on thy wife to this." Shak. (b) To employ, as in a task. " Set on thy wife to observe." Shak. (c) To fix upon; to attach strongly to; as, to set one's heart or affections on some object. See definition 2, above. -- To set one's cap for. See under Cap, n. -- To set one's self against, to place one's self i…

o attend as closely as a shadow; to follow and watch closely, especially in a secret or unobserved manner; as, a detective shadows a criminal.

practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply. Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it. Secker.

To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as, a ship or boat slides through the water. Ages shall slide away without perceiving. Dryden. Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole. Pope.

A green foliated kind of amphibole, observed in eclogite and some varietis of gabbro.

easts profaned. Milton. The worship of this image was advanced, and a solemn supplication observed everry year. Bp. Stillingfleet.

A spectroscope fitted for measurements of the luminious spectra observed with it.

ys of which light is composed, separated by the refraction of a prism or other means, and observed or studied either as spread out on a screen, by direct vision, by photography, or otherwise. See Illust. of Light, and Spectroscope.

a lens or the like. [Obs.] Thy specular orb Apply to well-dissected kernels; lo! In each observe the slender threads Of first-beginning trees. J. Philips.

One who speculates. Specifically: (a) An observer; a contemplator; hence, a spy; a watcher. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

One who observes or considers; an observer. [R.] Goldsmith.

A minute spherical crystalline body having a radiated structure, observed in some vitreous volcanic rocks, as obsidian and pearlstone.

ing sprightly; liveliness; life; briskness; vigor; activity; gayety; vivacity. In dreams, observe with what a sprightliness and alacrity does she [the soul] exert herself! Addison.

A view of the universe of brighter stars as it would appear to an observer transported into space outside or beyond our universe of stars.

presumably to some abnormal resistance of the capillary walls. It is one of the phenomena observed in the capillaries in inflammation.

which the angles subtended by three distant objects, whose positions are known, have been observed. -- Station staff (Surv.), an instrument for taking angles in surveying. Craig.

To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look. Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal it. Bacon. To steal a march, to march in a covert way; to gain an advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of…

by refraction or reflection the pictures are superimposed, so as to appear as one to the observer.

One who studies or examines in any manner; an attentive and systematic observer; as, a student of human nature, or of physical nature.

, or evincing, stupidity; formed without skill or genius; dull; heavy; -- said of things. Observe what loads of stupid rhymes Oppress us in corrupted times. Swift.