observer — a person who watches or notices something
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person who watches or notices something
Pronunciation (IPA): /əbˈzɜːrvər/
Example Sentences
- The wildlife observer spent three hours watching a single bird build its nest.
- As a meeting observer, Tom's job was to stay quiet, but he ended up falling asleep and snoring loudly.
- The restaurant critic was supposed to be a secret observer, but everyone recognized him from TV.
observer
NOUN[/əbˈzɜːrvər/]
a person who watches or notices something
A quiet observer watches the chess match without saying a word.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'observare' (to watch, to observe), derived from 'ob-' (toward) and 'servare' (to keep, to guard). The term evolved to denote a person who watches or observes carefully, particularly someone who examines phenomena with sustained attention, as an astronomer observes celestial bodies through a telescope.
Breakdown
observe (from Latin observare: ob- meaning toward + servare meaning to keep/guard) + -er (agent noun suffix indicating one who performs an action). Thus, 'observer' literally means 'one who observes or watches.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The wildlife observer spent three hours watching a single bird build its nest.”
“As a meeting observer, Tom's job was to stay quiet, but he ended up falling asleep and snoring loudly.”
“The restaurant critic was supposed to be a secret observer, but everyone recognized him from TV.”
“International observers confirmed that the election was conducted fairly.”
📚Related Words
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