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One skilled in the art or science of music; esp., a skilled singer, or performer on a musical instrument.

To joirney by water; to go in a vessel or ship; to perform the duties of a navigator; to use the waters as a highway or channel for commerce or communication; to sail. The Phenicians navigated to the extremities of the Western Ocean. Arbuthnot.

Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice; finished; adroit; as, a neat design; a neat thief.

Of or pertaining to necromancy; performed by necromancy. -- Nec`ro*man"tic*al*ly, adv.

developed females of certain social insects, as of the ant and the common honeybee, which perform the labors of the community, and are called workers.

Neglect or failure of execution; nonperformance.

an established norm, rule, or principle; conformed to a type, standard, or regular form; performing the proper functions; not abnormal; regular; natural; analogical. Deviations from the normal type. Hallam.

ing tissues take up, from the blood, matters necessary either for their repair or for the performance of their healthy functions.

A list of the dead, or a register of anniversary days when service is performed for the dead.

Binding in law or conscience; imposing duty or obligation; requiring performance or forbearance of some act; -- often followed by on or upon; as, obedience is obligatory on a soldier. As long as the law is obligatory, so long our obedience is due. Jer. Taylor.

A performer on the oboe.

chief mourner at his obsequies. Dryden. The funeral obsequies were decently and privately performed by his family J. P. Mahaffy.

act or practice of observing or noticing with attention; a heeding or keeping with care; performance; -- usually with a sense of strictness and fidelity; as, the observance of the Sabbath is general; the strict observance of duties. It is a custom More honored in the breach than the observance. Shak.…

Performance of what is prescribed; adherence in practice; observance. [Obs.] We are to procure dispensation or leave to omit the observation of it in such circumstances. Jer. Taylor.

One who fulfills or performs; as, an observer of his promises.

To perform the office of midwife. [Obs.] "Nature does obstetricate." Evelyn.

; unique; strange. "An odd action." Shak. "An odd expression." Thackeray. The odd man, to perform all things perfectly, is, in my poor opinion, Joannes Sturmius. Ascham. Patients have sometimes coveted odd things. Arbuthnot. Locke's Essay would be a very odd book for a man to make himself master of, who would get a rep…

ntended for prizes; -- hence, in modern usage, the name of a hall for musical or dramatic performances.

That which is performed, intended, or assigned to be done, by a particular thing, or that which anything is fitted to perform; a function; -- answering to duty in intelligent beings. They [the eyes] resign their office and their light. Shak. Hesperus, whose office is to bring Twilight upon the earth. Milton. In this ex…

The officer who officiates or performs an office, as the burial office. Shipley.