Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “observant” come from?

Observant derives from French observant, meaning one who observes or a member of a reformed Franciscan order.

observant (English): Alert and paying close attention; watchful;...

Definitions

  1. Alert and paying close attention; watchful;...

Ancestry of “observant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchobservantpresent participle of observer

Words derived from “observant”

  • unobservant
  • observantly
  • nonobservant
  • unobservantly
  • hyperobservant
  • observantness
Every word from French observant →