Observancy

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A characteristic of being mindful of one's environment and occurrences
2. The quality of paying close attention to details ; the act of adhering to established traditions or laws
3. The habit of noticing and considering surroundings carefully ; compliance with prescribed rites or regulations

Etymology: "Observancy" is an obsolete spelling of "observance," and the two words share the same history. The noun came into English from Old French "observance," which in turn descends from the Latin "observantia," a noun built from "observare" (to watch closely, to heed) plus the suffix "-ance," which turns a verb into a noun of action or state. The Latin root "observare" combines "ob-" (toward, over) with "servare" (to keep watch, to guard), so the underlying picture is of keeping one's eyes fixed on something. The sense in which "observancy" is used here, a habit of being alert to one's surroundings, is close to the older English meaning of attentive regard and respectful compliance. Because "observance" came to dominate the spelling, "observancy" fell out of common use, and its current sense is best understood as a revival of that original attentiveness rather than a new development.

Synonyms: watchfulness, surveillance, attention, vigilance, noticing

Antonyms: indifference, neglect, apathy, disregard, ignorance