Ob"so*let*ism (?), n. A disused word or phrase; an archaism. Fitzed.
Hall.
Ob"sta*cle (?), n. [F., fr. L. obstaculum, fr. obstare to withstand,
oppose; ob (see Ob-) + stare to stand. See Stand. and cf. Oust, v.]
That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders
progress; a hindrance; an obstruction, physical or moral.
If all obstacles were cut away. And that my path were even to the
crown.
Shak.
Syn. -- Impediment; obstuction; hindrance; difficulty. See Impediment,
and Obstruction.
Ob"stan*cy (?), n. [L. obstantia, fr. obstans, p. pr. of obstare. See
Obstacle.] Opposition; impediment; obstruction. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
{ Ob*stet"ric (?), Ob*stet"ric*al (?), } a. [L. obstetricius, fr.
obstetrix, -icis, a midwife, fr. obstare to stand before: cf.F.
obstétrique. See Obstacle.] Of or pertaining to midwifery, or the
delivery of women in childbed; as, the obstetric art.
Obstetrical toad (Zoöl.), a European toad of the genus Alytes,
especially A. obstetricans. The eggs are laid in a string which the
male winds around his legs, and carries about until the young are
hatched.
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Ob*stet"ri*cate (?), v. i. [L. obstetricatus, p. p. of obstetricare,
fr. obstetrix.] To perform the office of midwife. [Obs.] "Nature does
obstetricate." Evelyn.
Ob*stet"ri*cate, v. t. To assist as a midwife. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.
Ob*stet"ri*ca"tion (?), n. The act of assisting as a midwife; delivery.
[Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Ob`ste*tri"cian (?), n. One skilled in obstetrics; an accoucheur.
Ob`ste*tri"cious (?), a. [See Obstetric.] Serving to assist childbirth;
obstetric; hence, facilitating any bringing forth or deliverance.
[Obs.]
Yet is all human teaching but maieutical, or obstetricious.
Cudworth.
Ob*stet"rics (?), n. [Cf. F. obstétrique. See Obstetric.] The science
of midwifery; the art of assisting women in parturition, or in the
trouble incident to childbirth.
Ob*stet"ri*cy (?), n. Obstetrics. [R.] Dunglison.
Ob"sti*na*cy (?), n. [See Obstinate.] 1. A fixedness in will, opinion,
or resolution that can not be shaken at all, or only with great
difficulty; firm and usually unreasonable adherence to an opinion,
purpose, or system; unyielding disposition; stubborness; pertinacity;
persistency; contumacy.
You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this
contract.
Shak.
To shelter their ignorance, or obstinacy, under the obscurity of
their terms.
Locke.
2. The quality or state of being difficult to remedy, relieve, or
subdue; as, the obstinacy of a disease or evil.
Syn. -- Pertinacity; firmness; resoluteness; inflexibility;
persistency; stubbornness; perverseness; contumacy. -- Obstinacy,
Pertinacity. Pertinacity denotes great firmness in holding to a thing,
aim, etc. Obstinacy is great firmness in holding out against
persuasion, attack, etc. The former consists in adherence, the latter
in resistance. An opinion is advocated with pertinacity or defended
with obstinacy. Pertinacity is often used in a good sense; obstinacy
generally in a bad one. "In this reply was included a very gross
mistake, and if with pertinacity maintained, a capital error." Sir T.
Browne. "Every degree of obstinacy in youth is one step to rebellion."
South.
Ob"sti*nate (?), a. [L. obstinatus, p. p. of obstinare to set about a
thing with firmness, to persist in; ob (see Ob-) + a word from the root
of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Destine.] 1. Pertinaciously
adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to
reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; -- usually
implying unreasonableness.
I have known great cures done by obstinate resolution of drinking
no wine.
Sir W. Temple.
No ass so meek, no ass so obstinate.
Pope.
Of sense and outward things.
Wordsworth.
2. Not yielding; not easily subdued or removed; as, obstinate fever;
obstinate obstructions.
Syn. -- Stubborn; inflexible; immovable; firm; pertinacious;
persistent; headstrong; opinionated; unyielding; refractory;
contumacious. See Stubborn.
-- Ob"sti*nate*ly, adv. -- Ob"sti*nate*ness, n.
Ob`sti*na"tion (?), n. [L. obstinatio.] Obstinacy; stubbornness. [Obs.]
Jer. Taylor.
Ob`sti*pa"tion (?), n. [L. obstipatio a close pressure; ob (see Ob-) +
stipare to press.] 1. The act of stopping up, as a passage. [Obs.]
Bailey.