13687 words found
Obeah is a Caribbean-based folk religion and magical practice, often associated with spiritual healing, protective charms, and sorcery. Used chiefly in Barbados and Jamaica, the term refers to systems of belief and ritual that blend African, Caribbean, and indigenous elements. As a noun, it denotes the practice itself, not a person, and appears in historical and anthropological contexts as well as modern colloquial usage.
Obedience is the quality or act of following commands or instructions from a person in authority. It implies submission to rules or guidance, often implying disciplined compliance. As a concept, it can refer to behavior in individuals, groups, or institutions, and is frequently discussed in ethical, legal, and social contexts.
Obedient describes someone who complies with rules or authority, showing willing submission and adherence to expectations. It denotes being dutiful or compliant, often implying an effort to follow instructions or commands. In use, it can carry neutral or mildly positive connotations depending on context and tone.
Obeisance is a formal act of deep respect, typically shown by bowing or kneeling. In use, it describes ceremonial homage or deference to a person of authority or to sacred authority, and can also refer to the gesture itself. The term carries weight in historical, religious, and aristocratic contexts, often implying reverence and submission.
Obelisk is a tall, four-sided, tapering monument with a pyramidion at the top, traditionally erected as a commemorative or ceremonial feature. The term denotes a vertical, stone structure that rises from a square or rectangular base, often carved with inscriptions. In modern usage, it can describe any tall, slender monument serving as a landmark or symbol.
Oberammergau is a German town famous for its Passion Play performed every ten years. Used as a proper noun, it refers to the place and its cultural event, with a distinctive German pronunciation that can challenge non-native speakers due to its multisyllabic structure and unfamiliar consonant clusters.
Oberon is a proper noun, most often the name of a legendary king in medieval romance and a character in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. It also appears in fantasy literature and modern adaptations. Pronounced with three syllables, it typically stresses the first syllable and ends with a light, unstressed final "on". In practice, it conveys a regal, archaic aura in speech.
Oberyn Martell, known as the Red Viper, is a fictional nobleman from Dorne in Game of Thrones. The name combines a Spanish-influenced first name with a Germanic-sounding surname, and “Red Viper” is a title describing his famed venomous combat style. In speech, the full name is often spoken with title emphasis and occasional fan shorthand. The pronunciation favors clear syllable-timing and a soft Dorne-specific cadence.
Obese is an adjective describing someone who is extremely overweight to a degree that may affect health. Commonly used in medical or clinical contexts, it denotes a BMI category and implies significant excess body fat. The term is formal and precise, often preferred over casual descriptors in professional discussions.
Obesity is a medical condition characterized by excessive body fat accumulation, typically measured by a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. It has significant health implications and often requires lifestyle, medical, or surgical interventions. The term emphasizes severity and risk rather than mere weight, and it appears across clinical, public health, and policy discussions.
Obey is a verb meaning to follow or comply with rules, orders, or guidance. It denotes submission to authority or instructions and is commonly used in formal and informal contexts. Pronounced with stress on the second syllable, it conveys obedience as an active or habitual behavior rather to resist or challenge directives.
Obfuscate is a verb meaning to deliberately make something unclear or difficult to understand, often by obscuring details, language, or logic. It describes actions intended to confuse or conceal truth, rather than to clarify. In formal contexts it may refer to masking information in communication, software, or policy.
Obfuscation is the act or process of making something obscure or unclear, often by concealing meaning or complicating the details. It is commonly used to describe deliberate confusion in language, code, or communication, aimed at reducing clarity or transparency. In many contexts, obfuscation can impede understanding, analysis, or honest discourse, and may be employed for concealment, protection, or rhetorical effect.
Obiter dicta is a legal term referring to observations or remarks made by a judge that are incidental to the decision and not essential to the ruling. It is used to describe statements in a judgment that express a reason or example but do not form the binding part of the court’s decision. The phrase is Latin and typically appears in appellate opinions and legal analysis.
Objectives refers to the specific goals or aims that guide action, planning, or research. As a noun, it often functions as the measurable targets within a project, program, or study, clarifying what success looks like. It can also indicate a set of aims for a lesson, meeting, or organizational strategy, typically stated in the plural form.
Oblate is an adjective describing a shape that is flattened at the poles or otherwise made flatter than a perfect sphere, often resembling a slightly squashed ball. It is used in geometry, geology, and astronomy, as in oblate spheroid or oblate moon. The term emphasizes deformation from roundness, usually due to rotation or external forces.
Obligation is a duty or commitment that binds one to a course of action. It implies a moral or legal requirement, often creating a sense of necessity that may supersede personal preference. In everyday use, it refers to something one is compelled to do, whether due to law, norms, or personal responsibility.
Obligatory is a required or morally binding condition. In practice it refers to something that must be done or complied with, often due to rule, duty, or necessity. The term is commonly used in formal or professional contexts to mark nonoptional obligations rather than preferences. A related noun form is obligation, but obligatory describes the nature of the requirement itself.
Oblige is a verb meaning to do something as a favor or to feel bound to comply with a request or rule. It can also be used as a formal noun in phrases like “an obligee” to denote a person who is obliged. The term often implies a sense of duty, gratitude, or social obligation in giving or receiving a favor.
Obliged is an adjective meaning grateful or appreciative, typically after someone has done you a favor. It also connotes a sense of obligation in certain contexts. The word implies a courteous acknowledgment, sometimes used in formal or slightly old-fashioned speech. In modern usage, it often appears in phrases like “I am obliged to you.”
Obliged To is a fixed phrase meaning you feel compelled or grateful to do something. It functions as a verb phrase where obliged (past participle of oblige) carries the sense of duty or gratitude, followed by to + base verb. In use, it conveys formality and a sense of obligation rather than a suggestion or option.
