observe, v. 9. trans.
a. To take notice of, be conscious of; to notice, perceive, see. Freq. with that-clause as object. Also intr.
1560 J. DAUS tr. J. Sleidane
Commentaries f. cclxxxv, The Sunne loked pale and dimme,..And this was not obserued in Germany only, but also in Fraunce & England.
1605 BACON Of Aduancem. Learning II. sig. Ll1, If men will intend to obserue, they shall finde much worthy to obserue.
1634 T. HERBERT Relation Trav. 223 King Henry..obseruing simplicitie in the Messingers deliuery.
1736 BP. J. BUTLER Analogy of Relig. I. ii. 32 This every one observes to be the general Course of things.
1783 H. BLAIR Lect. Rhetoric I. x. 200 We remark, in the way of attention, in order to remember; we observe, in the way of examination, in order to judge.
1793 W. COWPER Let. 6 Sept. (1984) IV. 390 Hearing the Hall clock, I observed a great difference between that and ours.
1805 M. LEWIS Jrnl.20 Aug. in
Jrnls. Lewis & Clark Exped. (1988) V. 126, I have also observed some robes among them of beaver, moonax, and small wolves.
a1855 J. EAGLESSketcher (1856) viii. 200, I am not, observe, here saying one is preferable to another.
1881 T. HARDY Laodicean I.
II. i. 254 At last he observed the white waistcoat of the man he sought.
1940 H. G. WELLS Babes in Darkling Wood I. ii. 51 He seemed to be seeing something that had always been under his eyes but which he had never clearly observed before.
1987 T. WOLFE Bonfire of Vanities (1988) v. 125 You will also observe that I do not have eyes in the back of my head.
Jim and I are having a bit of a disagreement over what the above definition of "observe" literally means. I think that the choice of the word "conscious" implies having cognizance of the event and therefore would also suggest that one has memory of it taking place. Jim countered that the use of the word "perceive" intimates looking in the direction of the event taking place, but not necessarily remembering it. What do you think?
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2 comments:
I may be way off, but perceiving is more of a passive cognitive function. Observing, I think implies perceiving with purpose.
You can perceive something and remember it, but it may not be something you particularly intend to remember. Observing is something to be noted.
It's kind of like in 'Much Ado About Nothing':
Claudio: Didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?
Benedick: I noted her not; but I looked on her.
(Act 1, Sc. I)
Thank you! That's precisely what I thought, so yay. I've been forewarned to not bring up this topic again once I got an answer so... I'm just going to bask in the being right glory all by my lonesome.
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