Observers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People who notice and evaluate various activities or situations
2. Individuals who pay attention to specific incidents or behaviors for study and interpretation
3. Persons who carefully watch events or situations to gather information

Etymology: "Observers" is the plural of "observer," a noun formed in English from the verb "observe" plus the agent suffix "-er," meaning one who performs the action. The suffix has a long pedigree: it descends from Latin "-arius," which passed into Old English as "-ere" and reached modern English through Old French "-ier" and Middle English "-er." So the ending itself has traveled a considerable distance before attaching to the verb. The verb behind it, "observe," came into English from Old French "observer," which in turn came from Latin "observare," meaning to watch over, keep, or attend to. The Latin root combines "ob-" (toward or over) with "servare" (to keep, guard, or preserve). The sense of watching carefully, with an implication of keeping close watch, sits closer to the original Latin image of guarding something than to a casual glance.

Synonyms: witnesses, spectators, viewers, bystanders, watchers

Antonyms: participants, actors, doers, engagers, involved