▪ I. object, n.
(ˈɒbdʒɪkt)
[Partly n. use of object ppl. a.: cf. Lat. objecta pl. things objected, charges, accusations; but in philosophical and derived senses, ad. med. Schol. L. objectum (Duns Scotus a 1308, Prantl III. 208), lit. thing thrown before or presented to (the mind or thought); cf. OF. object (Oresme, 14th c.), now objet. In branch II rendering L. objectu-s, and so in origin a distinct word.]
I. From L. objectum, pl. objecta.
† 1. A statement thrown in or introduced in opposition; an objection. Obs.
c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 343 It is liȝt to assoile objectis aȝens þis. Ibid. II. 74 How Crist answeride to objectis of false Jewis. 1617 Minsheu Ductor, An obiect or obiection. |
† 2. Something ‘thrown’ or put in the way, so as to interrupt or obstruct the course of a person or thing; an obstacle, a hindrance.
Obs.c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. lxii. 144 Þy frailte wherof þou hast experience in many smale obiectes & contrariousnes. a 1564 Becon Comp. Lord's Supp. & Mass in Prayers, etc. (1844) 380 The massmonger prateth and babbleth that the sacraments of the new law..to him that putteth not an object or let (I use the school-men's words), that is to say, to him that hath no actual purpose of deadly sin..give grace, righteousness, forgiveness of sins, the Holy Ghost. |
3. a. Something placed before the eyes, or presented to the sight or other sense; an individual thing seen or perceived, or that may be seen or perceived; a material thing;
spec. the thing or body of which an observation is made, or an image produced, by means of an optical instrument, or in drawing or perspective.
1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. iii. xvi. (1495) d iv/1 Þe obiect of the eye is all þ{supt} may be seen, & al þ{supt} maye be herde is obiect to the herynge. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 79 That the earth..should give to the nose obiecte so swete Or minister scent so strong. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. ii. i. 70 His eye begets occasion for his wit, For euery obiect that the one doth catch, The other turnes to a mirth-mouing iest. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 829 Both Land and Water feasting varietie of senses with varietie of objects. 1736 Butler Anal. i. v. Wks. 1874 I. 93 Children, from their very birth, are daily growing acquainted with the objects about them. 1821 Craig Lect. Drawing iii. 183 To represent your object in the state of appearance which it has by its light and shadow. 1834 Medwin Angler in Wales I. 160 The torch's glare gave horrible indistinctness to objects. 1845 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 19 Several persons..producing different objects of value, declared that they had been given to them by the bishop. 1877 G. Macdonald Marquis of Lossie xxviii, [The painter] looking up and finding no object in the focus of his eyes. |
b. Something which on being seen excites a particular emotion, as admiration, horror, disdain, commiseration, amusement; a sight, spectacle, gazing-stock; formerly sometimes, an object (sense 4) of pity or relief, an afflicted person, sufferer; in
colloq. use, a person or thing of pitiable or ridiculous aspect, a gazing-stock, ‘guy’, ‘fright’, ‘sight’.
1588 Greene Perimedes 43 Women are more glorious obiects. 1605 Shakes. Lear v. iii. 238 Produce the bodies... Seest thou this obiect, Kent? 1607 ― Timon iv. iii. 122 Sweare against Obiects, Put Armour on thine eares, and on thine eyes. 1671 Milton Samson 568 To sit idle on the houshold hearth,..to visitants a gaze, Or pitied object. 1740 Butler Serm. Pub. Occas. ii. note, Some poor objects will be sent thither in hopes of relief. 1826 in Hone Every-day Bk. II. 620 That their apprentices..were..rendered objects for the remainder of their lives. 1878 Besant & Rice Celia's Arb. xxxvi. (1887) 260 The children are..breaking out again, in a way dreadful to look at. Forty-six is nothing but an Object—an Object—from insufficiency of diet. |
c. object of art = objet d'art (
objet 3). Also
object of art and virtu (see sense 3 d and
cf. objet 6).
1862 E. Hall Diary 5 June in O. A. Sherrard Two Victorian Girls (1966) 294 Went..to a private view of objects of art at South Kensington..the Wedgwood ware exquisite. 1863 Mrs. Gaskell Dark Night's Work x. 180 The beautiful pictures and other objects of art in the house. 1879 C. Schreiber Jrnl. 6 Dec. (1911) II. 250 As an object of art, it is vile, but in an antiquarian point of view, most curious. 1894 G. du Maurier Trilby I. i. 66 I've brought you these objects of art and virtu to make the peace with you. 1918 A. Bennett Roll Call i. viii. 152 The perfunctory accents in which she had catalogued her objects of art. 1925 Conrad Suspense ii. ii. 96 Cosmo looked at it with appreciation, as if it had been an object of art. 1973 W. Just Congressman who loved Flaubert 119 The columnist treated Caroline as a singular object of art, a serene and delicate event. |
d. object of virtu (see
virtu,
vertu 1 c).
1914 A. Huxley Let. 13 May (1969) 59, I hope things at Eastbourne are more or less settled now... I gather that 27 will fairly burst with bits of objects of vertu and utility. 1970 S. J. Perelman Baby, it's Cold Inside 54 The objects of virtu rifled from a hundred auction rooms. 1971 Daily Tel. 11 May 10/5 The sale, of miniatures and objects of vertu brought {pstlg}15,919. 1974 Ibid. 9 May 6/8 The sale of miniatures, gold watches, enamels and objects of vertu, totalled {pstlg}37,294. |
4. That to which action, thought, or feeling is directed; the thing (or person) to which something is done, or upon or about which something acts or operates (
= materia circa quem in Scholastic philosophy). Const.
of (the action, etc. or agent).
c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cix. x, Want and woe my life their object make. 1611 Tourneur Ath. Trag. v. i. Wks. 1878 I. 137 My wisedome that has beene The object of men's admiration. 1676 M. Clifford Hum. Reason in Phenix (1708) II. 547 Matters that concern Religion..being..a part of the Understanding's Object as much [as]..any other. 1697 Locke Lett. to Stillingfleet Wks. (Bohn) II. 340 Ideas are..the immediate objects of our minds in thinking. 1773 Observ. State Poor 47 He..will be deemed a proper object of public charity. 1845 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 27 The volume..which had formed the object of his study. 1853 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. i. iv. 170 To substitute objects of sense for objects of imagination. |
5. a. The end to which effort is directed; the thing aimed at; that which one endeavours to attain or carry out; purpose, end, aim.
the object of the exercise: see
exercise n. 8 h.
[
Cf. Thomas Aquinas
Summa contra Gentes i. lxxii, Objectum voluntatis est finis.]
1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. v. 67 How quickly Nature falls into reuolt, When Gold becomes her Obiect? 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 169 A Traveller is not to imagine pleasure his object. 1736 Butler Anal. i. iii. 85 Rendering public good an object and end to every member of the society. 1780 Bentham Princ. Legisl. xvi. §8 The first object..is to prevent..all sorts of offences. 1821 D. Stewart Progr. Philos. ii. iv. (1858) 317 The profession of Bayle..made it an object to him to turn to account even the sweepings of his study. 1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley iv. 52 Blast furnaces and forges serve no object but that for which they were erected. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 129 When you have heard the object of our visit. |
b. no object, not a thing aimed at or regarded as important to obtain. Freq. also used of distance, expense, etc., not taken into account or forming no obstacle.
See C. T. Onions in
S.P.E. Tract (1930) xxxvi. 531–4.
1782 Morning Herald 20 May 4/2 (Advt.), A Gentle⁓woman..wishes to superintend the family of a single Gentleman or Lady..and salary will be no object. 1796 Deb. Congress U.S. 7 Apr. (1849) 878/2 Enjoying..unexampled prosperity,..the expense of completing the frigates could be no object to the country. 1800 Morning Herald 4 Jan. 4/2 (Advt.), Wanted, in Chatham-place or New Bridge-street, a roomy convenient House... Rent no object, if the house is agreeable. 1855 Poultry Chron. III. 67/2 Where every convenience is obtainable, and expense no object. a 1864 R. S. Surtees Mr. F. Romford's Hounds (1865) i. 4 Money! Money would be no object to him! He'd give anything for a good horse! 1871 English Mechanic 20 Jan. 431/1 The colour of the solder is no object, as the joint will be hidden. 1873 J. H. Beadle Undevel. West xxxv. 762 With one team to each family (time being no object to such people) it cost them nothing to move. 1886 Encycl. Brit. XX. 228/1 Only those travel who travel by necessity, or to whom money is no object. 1891 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Mad Tour 3 The time when distance was, as the advertisements say, ‘no object’. 1909 ‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny iv. 62 She..gave her a la carte to fit me out—money no object. 1916 G. B. Shaw Pygmalion i. 116 I'm going home in a taxi... Eightpence aint no object to me, Charlie. 1926 A. Bennett Lord Raingo ii. lxxii. 326 ‘I'm thinking of going back to town now, sir..Unless of course you'd like me to stay.’ ‘No object in staying,’ Sam murmured, as if in disgust. 1930 London Mercury Nov. 45 Distance being no object.. scenes in Siam can be..transmitted. 1956 B. Holiday Lady sings Blues (1973) xiv. 121 We looked for the best private sanatorium around. Money was no object. 1964 R. Braddon Year Angry Rabbit xii. 109 Each side, having already bankrupted itself to finance this war, declared that money was no object. |
6. Metaph. A thing or being of which one thinks or has cognition, as correlative to the thinking or knowing
subject; something external, or regarded as external, to the mind; the non-ego as related to, or distinguished from, the ego; also extended to include states of the ego, or of consciousness, as thought of or mentally perceived. (
Cf. objective A. 2 b.)
[1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 379 Obiectum and subiectum..termes tua, Quhilkis ar..rife amange clerkis in scule.] 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. i, [The thoughts of men] are every one of them a representation or appearance of some quality or other accident of a body without us; which is called an Object. a 1670 Rust Disc. Truth (1682) 193 Concerning the truth of things, or Truth in the object. 1762 Kames Elem. Crit. (1833) 471 Every thing we perceive or are conscious of, whether a being or a quality,..is with respect to the percipient termed an object. 1829 Sir W. Hamilton Disc., Philos. Unconditioned Notes 5 The exact distinction of subject and object was first made by the schoolmen... These correlative terms correspond to the first and most important distinction in philosophy; they embody the original antithesis in consciousness of self and not-self. 1856 Ferrier Inst. Metaph. xxii. ix. (ed. 2) 393 The constitution of the synthesis of all cognition is..subject and object, the word object being used in the most general sense in which it can be employed to signify any thing, or thought, or state of mind whatsoever, of which any intelligence may be cognisant. 1860 Mansel Proleg. Log. i. (ed. 2) 7 Every state of consciousness necessarily implies two elements at least; a conscious subject, and an object of which he is conscious. |
7. Gram. A substantive word, phrase, or clause, immediately dependent on, or ‘governed by’, a verb, as expressing, in the case of a verb of action, the person or thing to which the action is directed, or on which it is exerted. Also, the word dependent on or ‘governed by’ a preposition, indicating that to which the preposition expresses a relation.
direct object of a verb: the word, etc., denoting that which is directly affected by the action (commonly expressed by the accusative, or case of direction
to, in Latin and other languages); the word ‘governed’ by a transitive verb. So
indirect object of a (transitive or intransitive) verb (commonly expressed by the dative case in Latin, etc.): see
indirect 3 c.
object clause, a clause or subordinate sentence forming the object of a verb, as in ‘we know (that) he is alive’. Also
object-case = accusative a. 1;
object complement, a word,
usu. a noun or adjective, which complements the object of a verb, expressing the state or condition of the object at the time of, or resulting from, the action;
cf. objective complement;
object-pronoun, a pronoun,
esp. a relative pronoun, which is the object of a verb or which introduces an object clause.
[1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Verb, Verb Neuter, is that which signifies an action that has no particular object whereon to fall; but which, of itself, takes up the whole idea of the action.] a 1729 Clarke (J.), The accusative after a verb transitive, or a sentence in room thereof, is called, by grammarians, the object of the verb. [1824 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 267 Verbs neuter do not act upon, or govern, nouns and pronouns... They are, therefore, not followed by an objective case, specifying the object of an action.] 1853 C. Marcel Lang. as Means Ment. Cult. II. 26 The word denoting this complement of the action [of a transitive verb] is called object. 1870 W. W. Goodwin Elem. Greek Gram. iii. 167 Object clauses depending on verbs signifying to strive for, to care for, to effect, regularly take the future indicative after both primary and secondary tenses. 1877 Whitney Essent. Eng. Gram. iii. 32 We speak of both verbs and prepositions as governing in the objective the word that is their object. 1879 Roby Lat. Gram. iv. viii. §1122 Some verbs have..two direct objects, one being a person, the other a thing. Ibid. ix. §1132 Not unfrequently..the indirect object in Latin corresponds to the direct object in English. 1881 Mason Eng. Gram. (ed. 24) §369 The Direct Object denotes—(a) the Passive Object, or that which suffers or receives the action denoted by the verb... (b) The Factitive Object, or that which is the product of the action. 1885 Object clause [used s.v. ask v. 5 a]. 1904 C. T. Onions Adv. Eng. Syntax 92 The large majority of verbs took the Accusative as Object, and thus there was a tendency for the Accusative to become the universal Object-case. 1906 G. R. Carpenter Eng. Gram. ii. 25 An object complement is a noun or adjective completing the meaning of a transitive verb. 1927 E. A. Sonnenschein Soul of Grammar 10 There is no ambiguity in sentences like the following, though the object-case has the same form as the subject-case: ‘the lion beat the unicorn’. 1957 R. W. Zandvoort Handbk. Eng. Gram. iii. vi. 165 What..may introduce a subject clause, an object clause. 1960 T. F. Mustanoja M.E. Syntax I. 205 Non-expression of the object-pronoun in a relative clause has not been attested in OE. 1963 F. T. Visser Hist. Syntax Eng. Lang. I. iv. 550 Since these added adjectives or nouns do not affect the meaning of the verb, but are merely adjuncts to the object the term ‘object complement’ or ‘objective complement’..seems preferable to the appellation ‘predicative adjunct’. 1964 English Studies XLV. 386 The rapidly developing ‘periphrastic genitive’, in which object-case pronouns h-r and h-m (after of) contrasted. 1966 Ibid. XLVII. 55 Of special importance is the absence of the relative object-pronoun (e.g. The spirits I have raised abandon me), one of the most frequent idioms in coll. English. Ibid. 253 A third argument against calling the that-clause an object clause is that it lacks the noun characteristic of forming prepositional adjuncts. |
II. [
= L.
objectu-s (
u-stem),
= objection 3, 4.]
† 8. The fact of throwing itself or being thrown in the way; interposition, obstruction;
= objection 3.
Obs. rare.
1555 Eden Decades W. Ind. iii. vi. 118 Those waters shulde bee turned aboute by the objecte or resystaunce of that lande [tr. Petrus Martyr d'Anghiera Unde credunt eas aquas obiectu magnæ telluris circumagi]. |
† 9. The presentation (of something) to the eye or perception;
= objection 4.
Obs.1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. ii. ii. 41 Reason flyes the obiect of all harme. 1607 ― Cor. i. i. 21 The obiect of our misery, is as an inuentory to particularize their abundance. c 1616 Chapman Batrachom. 15 He aduancing..past all the rest arose In glorious obiect. |
III. 10. attrib. and
Comb., as
object-carrier,
object-end, etc.;
object-directed adj. (so
object-directedness);
object-ball (
Billiards,
Croquet, etc.), the ball which the player endeavours to strike with his own ball;
object chart, a chart for use in object lessons;
object choice Psychol., something external to the ego chosen as a desirable object;
object code Computing, code produced by a compiler or assembler;
object-finder, a contrivance for registering the position of an object on a mounted microscopic slide, so as to find it again;
object-lens = object-glass;
object-lesson, a lesson in which instruction is conveyed by actual examination of a material object;
fig. something that furnishes instruction by exemplifying some principle in a concrete form;
object libido Psychoanalysis, that part of psychic energy which is directed to objects other than the ego;
object love, love for something external to the ego or self;
object-object (
Metaph.): see
quot.;
object-plate (
Microscopy), the plate upon which the object to be examined is placed (but used by Power as
= object-glass);
object program Computers, a program into which some other program is translated by an assembler or compiler;
cf. object language 3;
object-relation,
-relationship Psychol., a relationship felt, or the emotional energy directed, by the self or ego towards a chosen object; also
attrib.;
object-soul, a soul believed to animate a material object;
object-speculum (after
object-glass), the mirror in a reflecting telescope which receives and reflects the rays proceeding from the object;
object-staff (
Surveying), a levelling-staff;
object-subject, (
Metaph.): see
quot.;
object-system, the system of teaching by object-lessons;
object-teaching, teaching by means of object-lessons;
object-white Billiards, the white object-ball;
object word, a word which designates an object or material thing;
spec. in the theories of Bertrand Russell, a word the meaning of which can be learnt independently of the rest of the linguistic system;
object-world, the world external to the self, apprehended through the objects in it. See also
object-glass,
object-matter.
1856 ‘Crawley’ Billiards (1859) 17 The *object ball is the ball struck at with your own. 1891 Graphic 2 May 486/2 Tom Taylor got the object-balls jammed in one of the corner pockets, and..made a break of 1467. |
1879 Rutley Stud. Rocks vii. 50 A well-fitted sliding *object-carrier. |
1872 Rep. Indian Affairs 1871 (U.S.) 306 A new and original series of ‘*object charts’ gotten up expressly for the Indians of Oregon by myself. |
1920 Internat. Jrnl. Psycho-Anal. I. 137 Such motivation of the homosexual *object-choice must be by no means uncommon. 1948 M. Klein Contrib. Psycho-Anal. 121 His homosexual object choice at the narcissistic level. 1965 P. L. Giovacchini in B. L. Greene Psychother. Marital Disharmony 43 The spouse, representing a heterosexual object choice, would ideally be associated with ego transactions. |
1961 Communications Assoc. Computing Machinery IV. 70/1 An intermediate language is being used for the *object code of the compiling routines being developed at Berkeley. 1977 in C. S. French Computer Sci. (1980) 351 This is a load-and-go compiler, reading source code from a deck of punched cards and writing object code directly into core storage. 1985 Personal Computer World Feb. 160/2 The object code produced by the compiler can be saved to tape along with the relevant runtimes, allowing programs to stand alone. |
1960 W. V. Quine Word & Object vii. 239 Some of us are carried away by the *object-directed pattern of our thinking. 1973 Jrnl. Genetic Psychol. CXXII. 264 Six categories of object-directed behavior. |
1963 A. Kenny Action, Emotion & Will 195 How..can Brentano say that *object-directedness is peculiar to psychological phenomena? |
1793 Wollaston in Phil. Trans. LXXXIII. 145 From the eye-end to the *object-end of the telescope. |
1831 Brewster Nat. Magic iv. (1833) 79 So that the figure on the glass is at the proper distance from the *object lens. |
1831 C. Mayo Lessons on Objects Pref. 9 The miscellaneous *object lessons were abandoned. 1881 ‘Mark Twain’ Prince & Pauper xii. 115 In the times of which we are writing, the Bridge furnished ‘object lessons’ in English history. 1896 A. H. Beavan Marlbor. Ho. xii. 210 Unhappy Charles! for all time, object-lesson of lost opportunities. 1936 N. Streatfeild Ballet Shoes xi. 180 It was an object lesson she might remember always. 1977 Early Music July 401/3 Saul Novak gives an object-lesson in linear analysis for early music. |
1920 Internat. Jrnl. Psycho-Anal. I. 170 Paraphrenia differs from the psychoneuroses in that the *object-libido is re-converted into ego-libido. 1933 A. A. Brill in S. Lorand Psycho-Anal. Today 108 We thus distinguish an ego libido and an object libido. 1955 J. Strachey et al. tr. Freud's Compl. Psychol. Wks. XVIII. 257 The transformation of object-libido into narcissism necessarily carried along with it a certain degree of desexualization. 1964 H. Hartmann Ess. Ego Psychol. x. 185 It has sometimes been said..that the loss of object libido destroys the repressions. |
1918 E. Jones Papers on Psycho-Anal. (ed. 2) xviii. 332 The transference..like every ‘*object love’, has its deepest root in the repressed parent-complex. 1924 J. Riviere et al. tr. Freud's Coll. Papers II. 83 The sexual instinct passes on from auto-erotism to object-love. 1938 Times Lit. Suppl. 26 Feb. 132/4 The stage of ‘object-love’, when the moral superego takes charge and the ego is no longer coercive but submissive. 1968 A. H. Modell (title) Object love and reality. |
1836–7 Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. xlii. (1859) II. 432 An object known..may either be the quality of some⁓thing different from the ego; or it may be a modification of the ego or subject itself. In the former case the object, which may be called..the *object-object, is given as some⁓thing different from the percipient subject. |
1664 Power Exp. Philos. 38 If you let her keep upon the lower side of your glass-*object-plate. 1667 E. King in Phil. Trans. II. 426 Lay it on the object-plate of a good Microscope. |
1959 M. H. Wrubel Primer of Programming vi. 128 At the end of the assembly or translation phase.., the programmer is presented with a machine-language deck [of cards] called the ‘*object program’. 1970 O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing xix. 304 In the most common systems for automatic coding, the translation from source program to object program is done in a separate computer run, called the compilation run. |
1968 L. Breger in J. Marmor Mod. Psychoanal. 47 The concept of ‘*object relation’ (that is, the idea that there is a fixed quantity of energy in a more or less closed system, so that if libido is ‘invested’ in one object it is ‘unavailable’ for other purposes). 1968 R. & G. Blanck Marriage & Pers. Devel. vi. 70 Persons on the need-gratifying level of object relations can change partners..readily. 1970 Jrnl. Analytical Psychol. XV. i. 7 True object relations are the goal of our efforts towards insight into our emotions. |
1926 Brit. Jrnl. Med. Psychol. VI. 292 The hetero-sexual stage, which is the most complete form of allo-erotic *object relationship. 1946 Internat. Jrnl. Psycho-Anal. XXVII. 31/2 From the point of view of object-relationship psychology, explicit pleasure-seeking represents a deterioration of behaviour. 1974 K. Lambert in M. Fordham et al. Technique in Jungian Analysis iii. 312 This annuls the ‘object relationship’ between the patient and the analyst. |
1875 A. C. O. Lonie in Encycl. Brit. II. 56/2 The doctrine of *object-souls..becomes the origin of Fetichism and idolatry. |
1781 Herschel in Phil. Trans. LXXII. 96 The *object-speculum or object-glass of a telescope. |
1867 Lewes Hist. Philos. (ed. 3) II. 484 Pure thought and pure matter are unknown quantities, to be reached by no equation. The thought is necessarily and universally subject-object; matter is necessarily, and to us universally, *object-subject. Thought is only called into existence under appropriate conditions; and in the objective stimulus, the object and subject are merged, as acid and base are merged in the salt. |
1869 C. L. Brace New West vi. 75 The improvement which we have sought so much to bring before the public in New York..—the ‘*Object System’—has already been adopted here. 1878 Harper's Mag. Mar. 607/2 This school is too large for strictly Kindergarten Teaching; but the ‘object system’..was the one adopted. |
1860 H. Barnard (title) *Object teaching and oral lessons on social science and common things. 1945 C. V. Good Dict. Educ. 411/2 Teaching, object, a method of elementary-school teaching derived from the work of Pestalozzi in Europe and introduced into the United States at the Westfield, Massachusetts, State Teachers' College in 1848 and at Oswego, New York, in 1861. |
1904 Mannock & Mussabini Billiards Expounded I. iii. 97 To enable the object-ball to go on to the baulk cushion and return up by the *object-white. 1907 Westm. Gaz. 19 June 7/2 He got the red ball against the top cushion,..and..the object-white against the side cushion. |
1914 L. Bloomfield Introd. Study Lang. iv. 111 The explicit predication of quality or action is impossible for languages in which every word expresses an object... In these languages the sentence consists of one or more *object-words. 1940 B. Russell Inquiry into Meaning & Truth 80 ‘Object words’ are defined, logically, as words having meaning in isolation, and, psychologically, as words which have been learnt without its being necessary to have previously learnt any other words. 1953 Mind LXII. 10 Harm has been done by the well-meaning distinction between object words and logical words... An object word such as ‘table’..has meaning in isolation from other words. 1954 E. Branth tr. H. Spang-Hanssen's Recent Theories Nature of Lang. Sign in Travaux du Cercle Ling. de Copenhague IX. 75 Even in the presence of an object, an object-word will only have an extremely vague ‘meaning’ if it did not—through its oppositions—concentrate its meaning on a particular ‘property’ in the object. 1964 E. A. Nida Toward Sci. Transl. iv. 62 Basically there are four principal functional classes of lexical symbols: object words, event words, abstracts, and relationals. |
1880 G. M. Hopkins Sermons & Devotional Writings (1959) ii. i. 127 Part of this world of objects, this *object-world, is also part of the very self in question. 1904 W. James Coll. Ess. & Rev. (1920) 446 There is..no account of the fact (which I assume the writers to believe in) that different subjects share a common object-world. 1934 W. Temple Nature, Man & God i. vi. 135 That discussion will be primarily concerned neither with the inner life of mind, conceived as separate from environment, nor with the object-world which mind apprehends and contemplates, but with the interrelation of these two. 1948 M. Klein Contrib. Psycho-Anal. 313 By being internalized, people, things, situations and happenings..cannot be verified by the means of perception which are available in connection with the tangible and palpable object-world. 1964 Gould & Kolb Dict. Social Sci. 313/2 Our understanding and its object-world. |
▸
object mirror n. Astron. (now
rare)
= primary mirror n. at
primary adj. and
n. Special uses (
cf. earlier
object-speculum n.).
1754 Philos. Trans. 1753 (Royal Soc.) 48 177 After the same manner may the double *object mirror of a reflecting telescope for this use be proved. 1853 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 1229/1 In reflecting telescopes the speculum, or mirror, performs the same office that the object-glass does in those of the refracting kind, and is therefore called the object-mirror. 1940–1 Notes & Rec. Royal Soc. 3 24 For technical reasons the requisite parabolic object-mirror could not be satisfactorily made. |
▪ II. † obˈject, ppl. a. Obs. [ad. L. object-us, pa. pple. of objicĕre (obicĕre) to throw towards or against, to place in front of, expose, f. ob- (ob- 1 a) + jacĕre to throw, place. In use app. before the formation of object v., of which it afterwards functioned as the pa. pple. until displaced in that use by objected.] 1. Thrown or put in the way, interposed, exposed; placed before one's eyes, presented to the view or perception; exposed (to injury or any influence, or to sight).
c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. v. pr. v. 130 (Camb. MS.) Þe qualites of bodies þat ben obiecte fro with-owte-forþe moeuen..the Instrumentz of the wittes. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iv. 763 Colde Blastis, sumthing obiect, ek from hem holde. 1538 Leland Itin. V. 99 An Abbay..standing very blekely and object to al Wynddes. a 1592 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 333 The text is plain, and object to every man's capacity. 1608 Willet Hexapla Exod. 801 Sensible things which are obiect to the eye. 1650 Sir W. Mure Cry Blood 411 To refine His Gold, and purge away the object Ore. |
b. Situated in front of, or over against, something else; opposite; also
fig. opposed, contrary.
a 1541 Wyatt Song of Topas Poet. Wks. (1861) 151 The one [pole] we see alway, the other stands object Against the same. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 71 [An island] vpon the Calabrian coast before Brundusium; by the obiect site whereof the hauen is made. 1603 H. Chettle Eng. Mourn. Garm. E, [The Puritans] though they be vtterly object to the Romanistes; yet haue they more..Saints among them than are in the Romish Kalendar. 1613 R. Cawdrey Table Alph. (ed. 3), Obiect, laide, or set against. |
2. Objected, brought as an objection, charged (
against a person). With
at = charged with something, accused:
cf. object v. 5.
1485 Surtees Misc. (1888) 43 No thing probable object ayenst the same by the said craft. 1504 W. Atkynson tr. De Imitatione iii. lxii. 254 Lytell thynges obiecte agaynst the. a 1529 Skelton Col. Cloute 796 Bachelers in that facultie..Shall not be objecte at by me. |
▪ III. object, v. (
əbˈdʒɛkt)
[f. L. object-, ppl. stem of objicĕre (obicĕre) to throw against, etc.: see prec. It may also partly represent the L. frequentative objectāre. OF. has a solitary instance of objeter in 1298; but the current objecter began as objetter in 14th c. For earlier use of object as pa. pple., see prec.] † 1. a. trans. To put over against or in the way of something else; to place so as to meet or intercept something: to expose
to.
Obs. or
arch.1578 Banister Hist. Man viii. 102 A certeine soft sinew..[is] obiected to the holes transuersely. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 334 Every one of these doe blacke the bodies objected unto them. 1654 R. Codrington tr. Iustine xv. 240 He commanded him to be objected to a hungry and an enraged Lyon. 1673–4 Grew Anat. Trunks i. ii. §33 A very white..piece of Ashwood..objected to a proper Light. 1813–21 Bentham Wks. (1843) VIII. 205 This body..stands objected, i.e. cast before, that other body which moves. 1850 Neale Med. Hymns (1867) 195 From what point the wind his course On the tower directeth, To that point the cock his head Manfully objecteth. |
† b. To place so as to interrupt or hinder the course of a person or thing; to put in the way or interpose, as an obstacle or hindrance to progress, or a defence from attack.
Obs. or
arch.1548 Bodrugan [Adams] Epit. King's Title A ij, To deliuer vs from the perill obiected. 1563 Homilies ii. Idolatry iii. (1859) 253 To object to the weake..such stumbling-blocks. c 1611 Chapman Iliad iv. 208 My girdle, curets doubled here, and my most trusted plate, Objected all 'twixt me and death. 1725 Pope Odyss. vii. 54 Pallas to their eyes The mist objected. 1814 Southey Roderick xxv, The Goth objects His shield, and on its rim received the edge. |
† c. To expose
to danger or evil of any kind.
Obs.c 1520 Barclay tr. Sallust 7 He concluded with hymselfe to obiect hym to daunger and peryll of warre. 1533 Bellenden Livy iv. (1822) 331 Quhy wald thay object him aganis sa hie dangere and perrellis. 1566 Painter Pal. Pleas. I. 105 Obiecting himselfe to the daunger wherein he was likely to be overwhelmed. a 1677 Barrow Serm. Wks. 1716 II. 307 All these afflictions..they knowingly did object themselves to. |
† 2. To place (something) before the eyes or other organs of sense, or the mind; to present or offer to the sight, perception, understanding, etc.
Obs. or
arch.1534 More Comf. agst. Trib. iii. Wks. 1249/1 The bodily senses, moued by such thinges..as are outwardly thorowe sensible worldly thinges offred & obiected vnto them. 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 22 Concupiscence..apprehendeth whatsoever phantasie and sence obiect unto it. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 400 Whose temperance was of proof against any meat objected to his appetite. a 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. i. i. 2 As the Objects of Light or Colour are objected to the Eye when it is open. 1720 Welton Suffer. Son of God I. Pref. 89 The Mysterious Work, objected to his contemplation. 1826 K. Digby Broadst. Hon. (1829) I. Godefridus 182 Religion..convinces man that there are other things in heaven and earth besides those which are objected to his senses. |
† 3. To present or offer in discourse or argument; to bring forward as a reason, ground, or instance; to adduce.
Obs. or
arch.1536 Act 28 Hen. VIII, c. 7 §12 Such questions..as shalbe obiected to them. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. v. vii. (1886) 82 For the maintenance of witches transportations, they object the words of the Gospell, where the divell is said to take up Christ. 1634 Canne Necess. Separ. (1849) 232 Augustine was of mind, that councils, bishops, &c., ought not to be objected for trial of controversies, but the holy scriptures only. 1704 Swift T. Tub Apol., He has never yet found it in that discourse, nor has heard it objected by any body else. 1849 W. Fitzgerald tr. Whitaker's Disput. 67 What church is it whose example they object to us as an argument? |
4. To bring forward or state in opposition; to adduce as a reason against something; to urge as an objection (
to,
unto,
against).
a. with simple
obj.c 1400 Apol. Loll. 33 For obieccouns & sophims þat men may mak & obiect. 1513–14 Act 5 Hen. VIII, c. 1 If the same persons..obiecte or allege any cause why he shall not soo doo. 1630 Prynne Anti-Armin. 165 The self-same Scriptures that are here obiected against us. 1754 Richardson Grandison (1781) III. xx. 184 They objected the more obvious difficulties in relation to religion, and my country. 1830 H. N. Coleridge Grk. Poets (1834) 352 Bryant objects this very circumstance to the authenticity of the Iliad. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. iv. vii. 372 Its adversaries objected the absence of all the great Patriarchs. |
b. with object clause. Also with direct speech.
1559 Bp. Scot in Strype Ann. Ref. (1824) I. ii. App. vii. 411 It wilbe objectid against me, that as this place dothe make against the supremacye of princes, so dothe it not make for the primacye of saint Peter. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 23 But some object, This is to slacken him running, rather then to incite. 1685 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 365 Objecting how unlikely it was. 1736 Butler Anal. i. iii. 70 If it is objected that good actions..are often punished. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) II. 404 It hath been objected, that this relates only to the preservation of the legal estate of the use, and not to the timber or mines. 1972 D. Bloodworth Any Number can Play xvi. 154 ‘But it would have been..a pointed piece of skin,’ objected Green. 1974 Listener 3 Oct. 423/2 Mr Johnston objected: ‘But we already have..a shop stewards' movement.’ |
5. To bring as a charge against any one; to attribute to any one as a fault or crime; to lay to one's charge, cast in one's teeth, accuse one of, reproach one with. Const.
to,
against (
† upon, indirect
obj.)
a. with simple
obj. arch.1469 Paston Lett. II. 338 Charging yow..to appear afore the said Lords of our Councell..there to answere to such thinges as..by them shall be laid and objected against yow. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 10 Yf euer thou dyd ony notable synne..he wyll obiecte it to the, and cast it in thy nose. 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terapeut. 2 E ij, The which thyng we do obiect them. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 66 They were committed to diuers Prisons, for Crimes objected against them. 1656 Hobbes Lib., Necess., etc. (1841) 116 When God afflicted Job, he did object no sin to him. 1761–2 Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) IV. lvii. 363 This subtlety, which has been frequently objected to Charles. 1844 Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858) II. x. 83 This hypocrisy was invisible to the contemporaries of those to whom it is objected. |
b. with object clause.
1587 Holinshed Chron., Scot. II. 259 Those taunts which the Frenchmen laid upon them, obiecting that the greedinesse of wine and vittles had brought them ouer into that countrie. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. i. (1736) 13 It was obviously objected upon Christians, that they condemned the Practice of Burning. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 95 ¶6, I have heard it objected against that Piece, that its Instructions are not of general use. 1833–6 J. Eagles The Sketcher (1856) 18, I once heard a person object to Gaspar Poussin, that there was too much in his pictures. |
† 6. trans. To impute, attribute (
to). (A weakening of
prec. sense.)
Obs.1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 120 They were so scrupulous concerning the Moone, that Clemens Alexand...objects the worship therof unto them. 1734 Fielding Univ. Gallant ii. i, Do you object my care of your reputation to want of fondness? 1776 Burney Hist. Mus. (1789) I. 342 Homer who celebrates the Greeks for their long hair and Achilles for his skill on the harp, makes Hector in this place object them both to Paris. |
7. a. intr. To state an objection or adverse reason; now often in weakened sense: To express or feel disapproval, to disapprove.
1430–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) VII. 157 But peraventure ye obiecte, and say hit longethe not to a preste to schedde bloode; I graunte þerto; but [etc.]. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 173 b, The vntreatable irefull persone wyll obiect & saye [etc.]. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 58 b, Vnto such as will question and obiect what shall we then do? 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. iv. xvi, Then it is the lady as formerly objected? Mod. I think I'll have a smoke, if you don't object. |
b. with
to (sometimes
against, rarely
at) or
inf.: To bring forward a reason against; to state, and maintain by argument, one's disagreement with or disapproval of; now usually in weakened sense: To express, or merely to feel, disapproval of; to have an objection
to, disapprove of, dislike. (The prevailing current sense.)
1513 More Rich. III, Wks. 60/1 Y⊇ kinges mother obiected openly against his mariage. 1678 Rymer Trag. last Age 8 Those who object against reason, are the Fanaticks in Poetry. 1735 Pope Donne Sat. iv. 117 His Patience I provoke, Mistake, confound, object at all he spoke. 1758 Ann. Reg. 98/2 The doctor objected against fifteen, and the council for the crown against three. 1775 Sheridan Rivals ii. 1, 'Tis more unreasonable in you to object to a lady you know nothing of. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 68 He objected to this as a harsh measure. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. iv. xii, Would the lady object to my lighting the pair of candles? 1869 J. Martineau Ess. II. 176 We object to the argument on scientific grounds. 1885 Manch. Exam. 6 Nov. 5/3 They objected to be actors in a farce. |
† c. intr. To bring a charge or accusation.
Obs.1611 Bible Acts xxiv. 19 Who ought to have beene here before thee, and obiect, if they had ought against me. |
Hence
obˈjecting vbl. n. and ppl. a.1552 Huloet, Obiectinge, obiectus, obiectio. 1886 Mrs. E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew III. ii. 32 Petrarca had..praised Yetta Carew with dangerous fervency to his objecting Laura. |