Ob., for objection, just as sol. for solution, on the margins of old books of controversial divinity.—n. Ob′-and-sol′er, a disputant, polemic.

Obang, ō-bang′, n. an old Japanese oblong gold coin.

Obbligato, ob-li-gä′to, adj. that cannot be done without.—n. a musical accompaniment, itself of independent importance, esp. that of a single instrument to a vocal piece.—Also Obliga′to. [It.]

Obconic, -al, ob-kon′ik, -al, adj. inversely conical.

Obcordate, ob-kor′dāt, adj. (bot.) inversely heart-shaped, as a leaf.

Obdurate, ob′dū-rāt, adj. hardened in heart or in feelings: difficult to influence, esp. in a moral sense: stubborn: harsh.—n. Ob′dūracy, state of being obdurate: invincible hardness of heart.—adv. Ob′dūrately.—ns. Ob′dūrateness, Obdūrā′tion.—adj. Obdūred′, hardened. [L. obdurāre, -ātumob, against, durāre, to harden—durus, hard.]

Obeah. See Obi.

Obedience, ō-bē′di-ens, n. state of being obedient: willingness to obey commands: dutifulness: the collective body of persons subject to any particular authority: a written instruction from the superior of an order to those under him: any official position under an abbot's jurisdiction.—adjs. Obē′dient, willing to obey; Obēdien′tial, submissive: obligatory.—adv. Obē′diently.—Canonical obedience, the obedience, as regulated by the canons, of an ecclesiastic to another of higher rank; Passive obedience, unresisting and unquestioning obedience to authority, like that taught by some Anglican divines as due even to faithless and worthless kings like Charles II. and James II.

Obeisance, ō-bā′sans, or ō-bē′sans, n. obedience: a bow or act of reverence: an expression of respect.—adj. Obē′isant. [Fr.,—obéir—L. obedīre, to obey.]

Obelion, ō-bē′li-on, n. a point in the sagittal suture of the skull, between the two parietal foramina. [Gr. obelos, a spit.]