observed

Everyday

1. Watched or looked at carefully, often to learn something. tree →
2. Noticed or saw something. tree →
3. (formal) Said or remarked. tree →
4. Obeyed a rule or kept a custom (observed the speed limit, observed a minute's silence). tree →

In the lessons

Very common in science: you write down what you observed in an experiment («observed results»). In stories, a character notices something. In formal speech, people keep rules or customs. Phrases: «observed that», «was observed», «observed values».

Examples

• We observed the caterpillar every day. tree →
• I observed that the ice melted faster in the sun. tree →
• Write down what you observed. tree →
• «It's getting late,» she observed. tree →
• The class observed a minute's silence. tree →
• Drivers observed the speed limit near the school. tree →
• The birds were observed in the garden at dawn. tree →
• "It is terribly warm here!" he observed. tree →

Note

Past form of «observe»; nouns «observation» and «observer». In science, an observation is what you see, not what you guess. In maths and statistics, «observed values» are the real measured numbers, not predicted ones.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, it can mean to watch for signs or to keep God's word; Laban "observed the signs" and Levi's tribe "observed Thy word."

Interpretation. The blessing of Levi praises the tribe for loyalty after the golden calf.

Examples

• And Laban said unto him: 'If now I have found favour in thine eyes — I have observed the signs, and the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.' (Torah GEN.30.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who said of his father, and of his mother: 'I have not seen him'; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew he his own children; for they have observed Thy word, and keep Thy covenant. (Torah DEU.33.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• "When Abraham our father arose, he looked nnd saw and investigated and observed and engraved and hewed and combin- ed and formed and calculated, and his creation was successful. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• My soul hath observed Thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. (Writings PSA.119.167, JPS 1917) tree →
• I have remembered Thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have observed Thy law. (Writings PSA.119.55, JPS 1917) tree →
• I have observed Thy precepts and Thy testimonies; for all my ways are before Thee. (Writings PSA.119.168, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past form of «observe»; nouns «observation» and «observer». In science, an observation is what you see, not what you guess. In maths and statistics, «observed values» are the real measured numbers, not predicted ones.