Ob*ject" (?), a. [L. objectus, p. p.]
Opposed; presented in
opposition; also,
exposed. [Obs.]
Ob"ject (&obreve;b"j&ebreve;kt), n. [L. objectus. See Object, v. t.]
1. That which is
put, or which may be
regarded as put, in the way of some of the senses; something visible or tangible; as, he observed an object in the distance; all the objects in sight; he
touched a strange object in the dark.
2. That which is set,
or which may be regarded as set, before the mind so as to be apprehended or known; that of which
the mind by
any of its
activities takes cognizance, whether a thing external in space or a conception formed by the
mind itself; as, an object of knowledge, wonder, fear, thought, study, etc.
Object is a
term for that about which the knowing subject is conversant; what the schoolmen have styled the "materia circa
quam."
Sir. W.
Hamilton. The object of their bitterest hatred.
Macaulay.
3. That by which the
mind, or any
of its activities, is directed; that on which the
purpose are fixed as the
end of action or effort; that which is sought for; end; aim; motive; final cause.
Object, beside its proper signification, came to be abusively applied to denote motive, end, final cause . . . . This innovation was probably borrowed from the French.
Sir. W. Hamilton.
Let our object be, our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country.
D. Webster.
4. Sight; show; appearance; aspect. [Obs.] Shak.
He, advancing close
Up to
the lake, past all the
rest, arose
In glorious object.
Chapman. 5. (Gram.) A word, phrase, or clause toward which an action is
directed, or is considered to be directed; as, the object of a
transitive verb.
Object glass, the lens, or system of lenses, placed at the end of a telescope, microscope,
etc., which is toward the object. Its office is to
form an image of the
object, which is then viewed by the eyepiece. Called also objective. See
Illust. of Microscope. -- Object lesson, a lesson in which object teaching is made use of. -- Object staff. (Leveling)
Same as Leveling staff. --
Object teaching,
a method of instruction, in which illustrative objects are
employed, each new word or idea
being accompanied by a representation of that which
it signifies; -- used especially in the kindergarten, for young children.
Ob*ject" , v. i. To make opposition in words or argument; -- usually followed by
to. Sir. T. More.
Ob*ject" (&obreve;b*j&ebreve;kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Objected;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Objecting.]
[L. objectus, p. p. of
objicere, obicere, to throw or put
before, to oppose; ob (see Ob-) + jacere to throw: cf. objecter. See Jet a
shooting forth.]
1. To set before or against; to bring into opposition; to oppose. [Obs.]
Of less account some knight thereto object,
Whose loss so great
and harmful can not prove.
Fairfax.
Some strong impediment or other objecting itself.
Hooker. Pallas to their eyes
The mist objected, and condensed
the skies.
Pope. 2. To offer in opposition as a criminal charge or by
way of accusation or reproach; to adduce as an
objection or adverse reason.
He gave to him to object his heinous crime.
Spencer. Others object the poverty of the nation.
Addison. The book . . . giveth liberty to object any crime against such as are to be ordered.
Whitgift.
Hear it pronounced