He is a very observing man, and takes notice of almost every thing which passes around him.

attending to something in the mind.

I took notice of a mistake in his lecture.

information given or received.

A written notice was left at his house to attend a meeting of the committee in the evening.

respectful and kind attention.

Though a stranger in the place, he was much gratified with the notice that was taken of him.

Nō tion, n. a conception in the mind.

The heathen have strange notions about their gods, that they eat, drink, sleep, and quarrel among themselves.

opinion, sentiment.

His notions on the subject of education are such, that he will not let any one teach his .children but himself.

We say a man is notional when he has strange fancies, and is whimsical. No tō ri ous, a. publicly known, and usually on account of something bad.

Robespierre is notorious as one of the most bloody and cruel men who were engaged in the French revolution. He was put to death in the year 1794.

Nour ish, v. a. to furnish food.

Joseph nourished his father, and his

brethren, and all his father's household with bread," during the famine in the land of Egypt.

to cause to grow; as, the rain nour

ishes the plants.

to train, to educate.

Moses was taken, when a child, by the daughter of Pharaoh, who nourished him as her own son.

Nov el, a. new, but lately known, unusual.

The father took his children to see the ascension of a balloon. They had never seen

one before. It was to them a novel and very interesting sight.

Nov ice, n. one who is just entering upon some business or profession; one who is unskilled in it, or unacquainted with it.

He is on his first voyage, and is quite a novice in the duties of a sailor.

Nox' ious, (nok shus,) a. hurtful, injurious to life or health,

In warm climates, they are troubled with many noxious insects and reptiles.

Nui sance, n. that which annoys by being offensive or noxious.

They threw so many dead animals into the pond, that it became a great nuisance to the neighborhood.

He was intemperate, profane, and a gambler, and a mere nuisance wherever he went. Null, a. having no force, not binding.

A law was passed forbidding ships to sail out of the country for sixty days. When that time expired, the law was null, and ships could sail just as if it had not been made.

If a boy should give a deed of his father's land, it would be a nullity. The man to whom it was given, could not hold the land. Nu me ral, a. relating to number, consisting of number.

The numeral figures are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 0.

Nurture, n. food, nourishment.-taking care of, training up and educating young persons.

Paul exhorts parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Nū tri ment, n. that which supports life, and causes growth.

His fever was so high, that he took no nutriment for several days.

Nu tri' tious, a. (nu trish us,) a. supporting life and causing growth.

Bread and milk is very nutritious food for young children.

Ŏb du rate, a. hardened in wickedness, stubborn.

He had become so obdurate in his course of crime, that nothing seemed to have any effect upon him, but calling to his remembrance the religious instruction which his mother gave him, when a child.

Ob ject, n. that which we see, hear, smell, taste or touch, or about which the mind thinks or feels.

The sun is the most glorious object of sight. An infant is the object of its mother's warm affection..

that to which the mind is directed as a thing to be obtained or accomplished.

The great object which Pizarro and the Spaniards had in view, when they invaded Peru in the year 1531, was to get possession of the gold and silver with which that country abounded.

Ob li gā tion, n. that which binds a person, the reason why one ought to do some particular thing, or feel in some particular manner.

A person may be under obligation to do a certain thing, because it is right in itself that he should do it; or because he has promised to do it or because some law or custom requires it of him; or because he has received a favor from some one.

We say that a person has conferred an obligation upon another, when he has done him some favor.

O blīge, (or o blege,) v. a. to compel a person to do something.

to keep religiously.

The Jews were required by their law, to observe the feast of tabernacles seven days.

The observance of the Sabbath is a great blessing to man, even so far as his happiness in this world is concerned.

Ŏb so lete, a. gone out of use; as an obsolete custom, an obsolete word.

Ŏb sta cle, n. any thing which hin

ders.

His weak eyes were a great obstacle to his progress in his studies.

Ob struct, v. a. to block up, to put some hindrance in the way.

The floating ice obstructed the passage of the ship up the river.

Ob täin, v. a. to get something which one wishes for, or aims at.

The Turks, under Mahomet II. obtained possession of Constantinople in the year 1453, and destroyed the Eastern Empire of the Romans.

Ob tru sive, a. disposed to force one's self, or something else, upon others, undesired or uninvited.

While several gentlemen were engaged in conversation, he was so obtrusive, although a stranger, as to interrupt it by remarks of his

The merchant told the young man who applied to him, that he had no occasion for the services of another clerk.

Oc ca' sion al, (oc cā zhun al,) a. not often, happening now and then.

He is a hard student, and his visits to his friends are only occasional.

Oc cu pa tion, n. the regular business which one follows.

The occupation of a farmer is favorable to health, to happiness, and to independence. employment of any kind.

His occupations were so numerous, that he neglected the instruction and government of his children.

Ŏc cu py, v. a. to hold, to keep possession of a thing for one's own

He usually writes with great clearness, but some sentences occur in the book which are very obscure.

Ŏc u lar, a. known by seeing it.

He knew that his friend was there, for he had ocular proof of it, he saw him.

Ō di ous, a. hateful, very offensive.

Tiberius, a Roman Emperor, during the first eight or nine years of his reign, appeared to be just and moderate, but afterwards became exceedingly odious by his cruelty and vices. He died in the year 37. Ō dor, n. a smell, fragrance. Of fend, v. n. to break some law.

He offended against the rules of the school so often, that he was at last dismissed. v. a. to displease.

Children in their plays should be careful not to do any thing to offend each other. Ŏf fice, n. a place of trust to which one is appointed, by lawful authority, to do public business.

The judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, hold their office during good

behavior.

particular employment, business, or part to be performed.

It belongs to the office of a sexton to ring the bell for public worship.

It is the office of the eye, to see; of the ear, to hear; of the hand, to work. a voluntary act of kindness or unkindness.

We should always be ready to do good offices to the poor and needy. the place in which public and other business is done; as the office of the Secretary of State, a physician's office.

Of fi' cial, (of fish al,) a. relating to office.

He never neglected his official duties, to attend to his own affairs.

coming from proper authority.

A communication from the general has been published, which can be relied upon as giving a true account of the battle; for it is official.

Of fi' ciate, (of fish ate,) v. n. to do what belongs to an office or employment.

He officiated as chaplain on the occasion, offering up the prayers, and reading a portion of Scripture.

Of fi'cious, (of fish us,) a. so forward and excessive in kindness as to be troublesome.

He was so officious in continually asking those near him at table to what they would be helped, that it greatly annoyed them.

He who is busy in meddling with what does not concern him, is said to be officious. Ŏm i nous, a. showing that something ill will happen.

Some persons are so foolish as to think that certain things which happen, are ominous of evil; as seeing the new moon, for the first time, over the left shoulder.

Om nip o tent, a. having all power, almighty.

Om ni pres ent, a. being in all places at the same time.

Om nis' cient, (om nish ent,) a. knowing all things.

Ön set, n. rushing on with a violent attack.

The foot-soldiers could not withstand the onset of the cavalry, but were thrown into confusion, and retreated.

O paque, or o pake, a. dark, that cannot be seen through.

The moon is an opaque body, and looks bright because it reflects the light of the sun. O pin' ion, (o pin yun,) n. what the

mind thinks about something concerning which there is probable, but not certain evidence that it is true or false.

We do not know certainly, that any body lives in the moon, but in the opinion of many it is inhabited.

what one thinks about persons or things.

He said that, in his opinion, it was one of the best paintings he had ever seen.

When we say that we have no opinion of a person, we mean that we do not think well of him.

Op pō nent, n. one who opposes. Op por tū nity, n. a good or suitable | time, occasion, or means for doing something.

He was spending the winter in Cuba, and finding a friend about to return to the United States, he took that opportunity to send by him a present of oranges to his mother. Op pōșe, v. a. to do something in order to hinder, prevent, or defeat.

He stood at the door and opposed the entrance of any one into the house. Op press, v. a. to burden heavily; to

be severe, and require more of those under our power than is right. The Greeks were so much oppressed by the Turks, that they rose against them a few years ago, and set up a government of their

own.

to bear down, to cause to sink in strength or spirits. ·

It was a summer's day, and the excessive heat oppressed us much.

One trouble after another has overtaken him, and he is so much oppressed by them that his health begins to fail.

Ŏp u lent, a. rich, owning a great many things.

was supposed to be given, was also called an oracle.

The most celebrated of all the heathen oracles, was that of Apollo at Delphos in Greece. A man distinguished for giving very wise opinions or counsels, is sometimes called an oracle.

Ō ral, a. spoken, not written.

The governor met both houses of the legislature, and made an oral communication to them.

Or dain, v. a. to appoint or design for a certain purpose.

to

God has ordained the sun to give light by day, and the moon by night.

choose or set apart for a particular office; as to ordain a minister of the Gospel.

to decree, to establish..

The government of a country ordains its laws.

Ör der, n. a regular manner of placing and doing things.

The order in which persons were to walk in the procession, was published in the newspapers the day before the celebration. proper condition.

He took care to have his horse in fine order before he started on his long journey.

the settled and usual way of doing things.

The motion which the member of the legislature nfade, was contrary to the rules of the house. It was out of order.

command.

The order of the physician was, that no person should be permitted to visit the sick

man.