Verb

(observ)

(lb) To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.

:

*1892 , (Arthur Conan Doyle),

*:“One horse?” interjected Holmes. ¶ “Yes, only one.” ¶ “Did you observe the colour?”

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-03, author=Frank Fish, George Lauder

, volume=101, issue=2, page=114, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Not Just Going with the Flow , passage=An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex . The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.}}

(lb) To follow or obey the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).

:

*Bible, (w)

*:Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread.

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=November 10, author=Jeremy Wilson, work=Telegraph

, title= England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report , passage=A sell-out crowd of 10,000 then observed perfectly a period of silence before the team revealed their black armbands, complete with stitched-in poppies, for the match. After Fifa’s about-turn, it must have been a frantic few days for the England kit manufacturer. The on-field challenge was altogether more straightforward. }}

(lb) To comment on something; to make an observation.

:

*

*:Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ ("I never) understood it," she observed , lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

Verb

(en verb)

To burn the flesh with a hot iron, either as a marker (for criminals, slaves etc.) or to cauterise a wound.

:When they caught him, he was branded and then locked up.

To mark (especially cattle) with a brand as proof of ownership.

:The ranch hands had to brand every new calf by lunchtime.

To make an indelible impression on the memory or senses.

:Her face is branded upon my memory.

To stigmatize, label (someone).

:He was branded a fool by everyone that heard his story.

*

*:I had never defrauded a man of a farthing, nor called him knave behind his back. But now the last rag that covered my nakedness had been torn from me. I was branded a blackleg, card-sharper, and murderer.

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 23, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport

, title= Man Utd 1-6 Man City , passage=As Ferguson strode briskly towards the Stretford End at the final whistle, he will have been reflecting on the extent of the challenge now facing him from the club he once branded "noisy neighbours".}}

(marketing) To associate a product or service with a trademark or other name and related images.

:They branded the new detergent "Suds-O", with a nature scene inside a green O on the muted-colored recycled-cardboard box.