observance

English

Alternative forms

• observancy (obsolete)
• observaunce (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old French observance, from Latin observantia. Equivalent of observe +‎ -ance.

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: əb-zûrʹvəns, IPA^(key): /əbˈzɝvəns/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əbˈzɜːvəns/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ob‧ser‧vance

Noun

observance (countable and uncountable, plural observances)

1. The practice of complying with a law, custom, command or rule.
2. The custom of celebrating a holiday or similar occasion.
3. Observation or the act of watching.
4. (religion) A rule governing a religious order, especially in the Roman Catholic church.

   Thomas Merton was a monk in the Order of Cistertians of the Strict Observance.

5. That which is to be observed.
6. Reverence; homage.

Antonyms

• misobservance

Derived terms

• hyperobservance
• misobservance
• Sabbath observance

Translations

practice of complying

• Bulgarian: спазване (bg) n (spazvane), съблюдаване (bg) n (sǎbljudavane)
• Czech: dodržování n
• French: observance (fr) f
• German: Beachtung (de) f
• Gothic: 𐍆𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌿𐌱𐌽𐌹 n (fastubni)
• Irish: coinneáil f

the custom of celebrating a holiday

• Bulgarian: тачене (bg) n (tačene)
• Dutch: feestdag (nl) m
• French: observance (fr) f
• Italian: giorno festivo m

observation or the act of watching

(religion) a rule governing a religious order, especially in the Roman Catholic church

• Bulgarian: обряд m (obrjad)

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔp.sɛʁ.vɑ̃s/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

observance f (plural observances)

1. observance

Related terms

• observable
• observant
• observateur
• observer

References

• “observance”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Further reading

• “observance”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.