Lewis & Short

ob-servo, āvi, ātum, 1 (archaic fut. perf. observasso, Plaut. Mil. 2, 3, 57), v. a.

  1. I. In gen., to watch, note, heed, observe a thing; to take notice of, pay attention to (class.; syn.: animadverto, attendo): ne me observare possis, quid rerum geram, Plaut. Aul. 1, 1, 14: quid ille faciat, ne id observes, id. Men. 5, 2, 38: fetus, to watch for, seek to catch, Verg. G. 4, 512: lupus observavit, dum dormitarent canes, watched, waited, Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 133: occupationem alicujus, et aucupari tempus, to watch in order to take advantage of, Cic. Rosc. Am. 8, 22: si iniquitates observaveris, Domine, Vulg. Psa. 129, 3: tempus epistulae alicui reddendae, to watch or wait for, Cic. Fam. 11, 16, 1: et insidiari, to be on the watch, id. Or. 62, 210: observavit sedulo, ut praetor indiceret, etc., took care that, etc., Suet. Claud. 22.
    So pass. impers.: observatum est, ne quotiens introiret urbem, supplicium de quoquam sumeretur, Suet. Aug. 57 fin.: observans Acerroniae necem, observing, perceiving, Tac. A. 14, 6: postquam poëta sensit, scripturam suam Ab iniquis observari, to be scrutinized, Ter. Ad. prol. 1: sese, to keep a close watch over one’s self, Cic. Brut. 82, 283.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. To watch, guard, keep any thing: januam, Plaut. As. 2, 2, 7: fores, id. Mil. 2, 3, 57: greges, Ov. M. 1, 513: draconem, auriferam obtutu observantem arborem, Poët. ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 9, 22; Sen. Hippol. 223.
    2. B. To observe, respect, regard, attend to, heed, keep, comply with a law, precept, recommendation, etc.: leges, Cic. Off. 2, 11, 40: censoriam animadversionem, id. Clu. 42, 117: praeceptum diligentissime, Caes. B. G. 5, 35: imperium, Sall. J. 80, 2: foedus, Sil. 17, 78: centesimas, to adhere to, Cic. Att. 5, 21, 11: commendationes, to attend to, regard, id. Fam. 13, 27, 1: auspicia, Tac. G. 9: diem concilii, Liv. 1, 50, 6: ordines, to keep in the ranks, Sall. J. 51, 1.
      Pass.: id ab omnibus, Just. 21, 4, 5.
    3. C. To pay attention or respect to; to respect, regard, esteem, honor one (syn.: veneror, revereor): tribules suos, Cic. Planc. 18, 45: regem, Verg. G. 4, 210: me, ut alterum patrem, et observat, et diligit, Cic. Fam. 5, 8, 4: et colere aliquem, id. Att. 2, 19, 5: aliquem perofficiose et amanter, id. ib. 9, 20, 3: clarissimus et nobis observandus vir, Front. Ep. ad Anton. p. 4.
    4. D. Observare se a quā re = se abstinere, Vulg. Judic. 13, 12.
    5. E. To observe, notice, perceive (eccl. Lat.): Amasa non observavit gladium, Vulg. 2 Reg. 20, 10.
      Hence,
      1. 1. ob-servans, antis, P. a.
    1. A. Watchful, regardful, observant.
      Comp.:       observantior aequi Fit populus, Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 296.
      Sup.: observantissimus omnium officiorum, Plin. Ep. 7, 30, 1; 10, 11, 1: observantissima lex suorum itinerum, App. de Mundo, 33 fin.
    2. B. Attentive, respectful: homo tui observans, Cic. Quint. 11, 39; Charis. 77 P.: observantissimus mei homo, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 2, 3, § 11; id. Fam. 13, 3 init.
      Hence, adv.: observanter, carefully, sedulously (post-class.): sequi, Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 1, § 7; App. Mag. p. 320, 11.
      Comp.: observantius, Amm. 23, 6, 79.
      Sup.: aliquid observantissime vitare, Gell. 10, 21.
        1. b. Reverentially: ad precandum accedere, Lact. 5, 19, 26.
      1. 2. observātē, adv., observantly, carefully, perspicaciously (postclass.): observate curioseque animadvertit M. Tullius, Gell. 2, 17, 1.