Observants

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who pay close attention to and follow particular customs or rules
2. Persons who exhibit careful observation and adherence to established practices or traditions
3. Persons who closely watch and adhere to specific practices or guidelines

Etymology: "Observants" is the plural of "observant," which in its noun use names people who keep religious rules and customs very strictly. The noun form came first, and the sense it carries today, a person who follows rules closely, grew out of the religious usage, where a strict adherent of a faith was marked off from more casual members. The adjective "observant" itself derives from the verb "observe," which traces back through Old French to the Latin "observare," meaning to watch or keep careful attention on something.

Synonyms: watchers, witnesses, viewers