object
OBJECT, n. L. objectum, objectus. See the Verb.
1. That about which any power or faculty is employed, or something apprehended or presented to the mind by sensation or imagination. Thus that quality of a rose which is perceived by the sense of smell, is an object of perception. When the object is not in contact with the organ of sense, there must be some medium through which we obtain the perception of it. The impression which objects make on the senses, must be by the immediate application of them to the organs of sense, or by means of the medium that intervenes between the organs and the objects.
2. That to which the mind is directed for accomplishment or attainment; end; ultimate purpose. Happiness is the object of every mans desires; we all strive to attain that object. Wealth and honor are pursued with eagerness as desirable objects.
3. Something presented to the senses or the mind, to excite emotion, affection or passion.
This passenger felt some degree of concern at the sight of so moving an object.
In this sense, the word uttered with a particular emphasis, signifies something that may strongly move our pity, abhorrence or disgust. What an object!
4. In grammar, that which is produced, influenced or acted on by something else; that which follows a transitive verb. When we say, "God created the world," world denotes the thing produced, and is the object after the verb created. When we say, "the light affects the eye," eye denotes that which is affected or acted on. When we say, "instruction directs the mind or opinions," mind and opinions," mind and opinions are the objects influenced.
objectable
OBJECTABLE, a. That may be opposed.
objection
OBJECTION, n. L. objectio.
1. The act of objecting.
2. That which is presented in opposition; adverse reason or argument. The defendant urged several objections to the plaintiffs claims. The plaintiff has removed or overthrown those objections.
3. That which may be offered in opposition; reason existing, though not offered, against a measure or an opinion. We often have objections in our minds which we never offer or present in opposition.
4. Criminal charge; fault found.
objective
OBJECTIVE, a.
1. Belonging to the object; contained in the object.
Objective certainty, is when the proposition is certainly true in itself; and subjective, when we are certain of the truth of it. The one is in things, the other in our minds.
2. In grammar, the objective case is that which follows a transitive verb or a preposition; that case in which the object of the verb is placed, when produced or affected by the act expressed by the verb. This case in English answers to the oblique cases of the Latin.
objectively
OBJECTIVELY, adv.
1. In the manner of an object; as a determinate idea objectively in the mind.
2. In the state of an object.
objectiveness
OBJECTIVENESS, n. The state of being an object.
Is there such a motion or objectiveness of external bodies, which produceth light?