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observance (n.)

mid-13c., observaunce, "act performed in accordance with prescribed usage," especially a religious or ceremonial one; late 14c., "care, concern, act of paying attention (to something)," from Old French observance, osservance "observance, discipline," and directly from Latin observantia "act of keeping customs, attention, respect, regard, reverence," from observantem (nominative observans), present participle of observare "watch over, note, heed, look to, attend to, guard, regard, comply with," from ob "in front of, before" (see ob-) + servare "to watch, keep safe," from PIE root *ser- (1) "to protect." Observance is the attending to and carrying out of a duty or rule. Observation is watching, noticing.

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Definitions of observance from WordNet

observance (n.)
the act of observing; taking a patient look;
Synonyms: observation / watching
observance (n.)
a formal event performed on a special occasion;
Synonyms: ceremony / ceremonial / ceremonial occasion
observance (n.)
the act of noticing or paying attention;
Synonyms: notice / observation
observance (n.)
conformity with law or custom or practice etc.;
Synonyms: honoring
From wordnet.princeton.edu