<B>objective, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>something aimed at. <BR> <I>Ex. My objective this summer will be learning to play tennis better.</I> (SYN) goal, object, aim. <DD><B> 2. </B>something real and observable. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Grammar.) <DD><B> a. </B>the objective case. <DD><B> b. </B>a word in the objective case. <I>Whom</I> and <I>me</I> are objectives. <DD><B> 4. </B>lens or lenses nearest to the thing seen through a telescope or microscope; object glass. <BR> <I>Ex. The instrument is provided with a rotating nosepiece to which are permanently attached three objectives of different magnifications (Sears and Zemansky).</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>the goal or target of a military operation. <BR> <I>Ex. Paris was the real objective of the invading German army.</I> <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>being the object of endeavor. <DD><B> 2. </B>existing outside the mind as an actual object and not merely in the mind as an idea; real. Buildings and actions are objective; ideas are subjective. <DD><B> 3. </B>about outward things, not about the thoughts and feelings of the speaker, writer, or painter; giving facts as they are without a bias toward either side; impersonal. <BR> <I>Ex. an objective analysis of a poem or painting. An "objective test" is often true and false or multiple choice. A scientist must be objective in his experiments. The policeman gave an objective report of the accident.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Grammar.) <DD><B> a. </B>showing the direct object of a verb or the object of a preposition. In "John hit me," <I>me</I> is in the objective case. <DD><B> b. </B>having to do with or being in this case. <DD><B> 5. </B>perceptible to other persons as well as to the patient. <BR> <I>Ex. an objective symptom.</I> <DD><B> 6a. </B>(of a work of art) representing or resembling natural objects; not abstract. <DD><B> b. </B>(in perspective) that is, or belongs to, the object of which the delineation is required. <BR> <I>Ex. an objective point.</I> adv. <B>objectively.</B> noun <B>objectiveness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="objectivecomplement">
<B>objective complement,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Grammar.) a word, such as a noun, pronoun, or adjective, used as a complement to a transitive verb to modify its direct object. In "I consider him smart," <I>smart</I> is the objective complement of <I>consider.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="objectivecorrelative">
<B>objective correlative,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a situation, action, or image, that externalizes or objectifies an emotional or other subjective state in a story, novel, poem, or play. <BR> <I>Ex. The only way of expressing emotion in the form of art is by finding an "objective correlative"; in other words, a set of objects, a situation, a chain of events which shall be the formula of that particular situation (T. S. Eliot).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>any concrete or physical representation; personification. <BR> <I>Ex. [James] Stewart is more than just a good family man; he is the objective correlative of the Middle-American ideal (Time).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="objectivism">
<B>objectivism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>any doctrine or philosophy that holds that external or objective elements of perception are the only real or worthwhile things. <BR> <I>Ex. It is the radical utilitarianism of our age, the fruit of our scientific objectivism, that speaks here (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the tendency to deal with objective things rather than thoughts or feelings, as in literature or art. </DL>
<A NAME="objectivist">
<B>objectivist, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a believer in objectivism. <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>=objectivistic.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="objectivistic">
<B>objectivistic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with objectivism or objectivists. <BR> <I>Ex. objectivistic logic.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="objectivity">
<B>objectivity, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the condition or quality of being objective; intentness on objects external to the mind; external reality. <BR> <I>Ex. Values are also determined by their objectivity, or how well they are met by objects themselves (James Collins).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="objectivization">
<B>objectivization, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the action of objectivizing; a making objective or impersonal. </DL>
<A NAME="objectivize">
<B>objectivize, </B>transitive verb, <B>-vized,</B> <B>-vizing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to make objective or impersonal. </DL>
<A NAME="objectlanguage">
<B>object language,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(Logic.) the language which is the object of an assertion, analysis, or discussion. <BR> <I>Ex. If we say, "In system S we can prove the formal sentence '1 + 1 = 2,'" we are making a statement in the metalanguage about "1 + 1 = 2," a statement in the object language (Scientific American).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Linguistics.) the language into which something is translated; target language. In a translation from Russian into English, Russian is the source language and English the object or target language. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Education.) the language which is the object of instruction; foreign language. </DL>
<A NAME="objectlens">
<B>object lens,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the lens or lenses other than the eyepiece on an optical instrument; objective. </DL>
<A NAME="objectless">
<B>objectless, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> without an object or end in view; aimless; purposeless. noun <B>objectlessness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="objectlesson">
<B>object lesson,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a practical illustration of a principle. <BR> <I>Ex. Many automobile accidents are object lessons in the dangers of speeding and carelessness.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>instructions conveyed by means of material objects. </DL>
<A NAME="objector">
<B>objector, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who objects. </DL>
<A NAME="objetdart">
<B>objet d'art, </B>pl. <B>objets d'art,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a small picture, vase, or the like, of some artistic value. <BR> <I>Ex. The drawing-room was crowded with objets d'art (London Times).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(literally) object of art. </DL>
<A NAME="objetdevertu">
<B>objet de vertu, </B>pl. <B>objets de vertu.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) <DD><B> 1. </B>an object of value because of its workmanship, antiquity, or rarity. <BR> <I>Ex. With other objets de vertu (small, precious ornaments), the cup was auctioned from the collection (New York Times).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(literally) object of virtue. </DL>
<A NAME="objettrouve">
<B>objet trouve, </B>pl. <B>objets trouves.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) <DD><B> 1. </B>any object found lying about, such as a piece of driftwood or shell, regarded as a work of art. <DD><B> 2. </B>(literally) found object. </DL>
<A NAME="objurgate">
<B>objurgate, </B>transitive verb, <B>-gated,</B> <B>-gating.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to reproach vehemently; upbraid violently; berate. <BR> <I>Ex. Command all to do their duty. Command, but not objurgate (Jeremy Taylor).</I> (SYN) vituperate, denounce, rebuke. </DL>
<A NAME="objurgation">
<B>objurgation, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an objurgating; vehement reproach. </DL>
<A NAME="objurgator">
<B>objurgator, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who objurgates. </DL>
<B>oblanceolate, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> shaped like a lance head but with the tapering end at the base. <BR> <I>Ex. an oblanceolate leaf.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="oblast">
<B>oblast, </B>noun, pl. <B>-lasts,</B> <B>-lasti.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a regional subdivision of any of the constituent republics of the former Soviet Union. <BR> <I>Ex. ... pictures life in the Jewish autonomous oblast ... of the Soviet Union (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="oblate">
<B>oblate</B> (1), adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> flattened at the poles. <BR> <I>Ex. The earth is an oblate spheroid.</I> adv. <B>oblately.</B> noun <B>oblateness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="oblate">
<B>oblate</B> (2), noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a person devoted to the service of a monastery as a lay brother. <DD><B> 2. </B>a member of any of various secular societies in the Roman Catholic Church devoted to religious work. <DD><I>adj. </I> dedicated to religious work; consecrated. </DL>
<A NAME="oblation">
<B>oblation, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the act of offering to God or a god. <DD><B> 2a. </B>the offering of bread and wine in the Communion service. <BR> <I>Ex. a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction (Book of Common Prayer).</I> <DD><B> b. </B><B>=Communion service.</B> <DD><B> 3. </B>something offered, now especially to God or a god. <BR> <I>Ex. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me (Isaiah 1:13).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>any gift for religious or charitable uses. <BR> <I>Ex. We humbly beseech thee to accept our alms and oblations (Book of Common Prayer).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="obligable">
<B>obligable, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> capable of being bound by an obligation. </DL>
<A NAME="obligate">
<B>obligate, </B>verb, <B>-gated,</B> <B>-gating,</B> adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to bind morally or legally; pledge. <BR> <I>Ex. A witness in court is obligated to tell the truth.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to compel; oblige. <BR> <I>Ex. Don't feel obligated to answer.</I> <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>(Biology.) able to exist under or restricted to only one set of environmental conditions, as a parasite is which can survive only by living in close association with its host. <BR> <I>Ex. Obligate parasites ... are completely dependent upon living hosts for their food (Harbaugh and Goodrich).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>obligated; bound. </DL>
