[W/K] :: Object staff

  Object \Ob"ject\ ([o^]b"j[e^]kt), n. [L. objectus. See Object,
     v. t.]
     1. That which is put, or which may be regarded as put, in the
        way of some of the senses; something visible or tangible
        and persists for an appreciable time; as, he observed an
        object in the distance; all the objects in sight; he
        touched a strange object in the dark.
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     2. Anything which is set, or which may be regarded as set,
        before the mind so as to be apprehended or known; that of
        which the mind by any of its activities takes cognizance,
        whether a thing external in space or a conception formed
        by the mind itself; as, an object of knowledge, wonder,
        fear, thought, study, etc.
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              Object is a term for that about which the knowing
              subject is conversant; what the schoolmen have
              styled the "materia circa quam."      --Sir. W.
                                                    Hamilton.
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              The object of their bitterest hatred. --Macaulay.
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     3. That toward which the mind, or any of its activities, is
        directed; that on which the purpose are fixed as the end
        of action or effort; that which is sought for; goal; end;
        aim; motive; final cause.
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              Object, beside its proper signification, came to be
              abusively applied to denote motive, end, final cause
              . . . . This innovation was probably borrowed from
              the French.                           --Sir. W.
                                                    Hamilton.
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              Let our object be, our country, our whole country,
              and nothing but our country.          --D. Webster.
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     4. Sight; show; appearance; aspect. [Obs.] --Shak.
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              He, advancing close
              Up to the lake, past all the rest, arose
              In glorious object.                   --Chapman.
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     5. (Gram.) A word, phrase, or clause toward which an action
        is directed, or is considered to be directed; as, the
        object of a transitive verb.
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     6. (Computers) Any set of data that is or can be manipulated
        or referenced by a computer program as a single entity; --
        the term may be used broadly, to include files, images
        (such as icons on the screen), or small data structures.
        More narrowly, anything defined as an object within an
        object-oriented programming language.
        [PJC]
  
     7. (Ontology) Anything which exists and which has attributes;
        distinguished from attributes, processes, and
        relations.
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     Object glass, the lens, or system of lenses, placed at the
        end of a telescope, microscope, etc., which is toward the
        object. Its function is to form an image of the object,
        which is then viewed by the eyepiece. Called also
        objective or objective lens. See Illust. of
        Microscope.
  
     Object lesson, a lesson in which object teaching is made
        use of.
  
     Object staff. (Leveling) Same as Leveling staff.
  
     Object teaching, a method of instruction, in which
        illustrative objects are employed, each new word or idea
        being accompanied by a representation of that which it
        signifies; -- used especially in the kindergarten, for
        young children.
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