observe-v; 4 Senses

Sense Number 1: focus attention on, keep tabs on

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1 OBSERVE[continuative] NP2[patient]

Examples:
Observe the pose of the figures in the foreground of this painting.
We couldn't observe the eclipse because of the overcast skies.
No one observed the crime being committed.
The chorus didn't appear to observe the conductor's tempo and got ahead of him.
Wall Street has been observing the process of this merger with some interest.
I observed a woman meowing into her cell phone yesterday.

Mappings:
FrameNet: Perception_active
PropBank: observe.01
WordNet 2.1 Sense Numbers: 3, 4, 7, 8

Sense Number 2: adhere to or engage in a practice

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1 OBSERVE NP2[patient]
NOTE: often respectful actions towards a tradition

Examples:
When did the country start observing Martin Luther King day?
John's family observes the Sabbath.
They are claiming that they intend to observe the conditions of the contract.
The team observed a moment of silence in Ms. Weber's memory.

Mappings:
WordNet 2.1 Sense Numbers: 5, 6, 9

Sense Number 3: discover or detect

Commentary: Syntax

Examples:
I observed a definite change in Jane's behavior at work last week.
Scientists have observed a sharp drop in vulture populations in India recently.
Analysts have observed that China's energy demands have grown in recent years.

Mappings:
FrameNet: Becoming_aware
WordNet 2.1 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 4: remark or mention, state

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] OBSERVE NP2[patient]

Examples:
"Mary is always late for dinner," observed John, glancing at his watch.
She observed to the other session members that they should disable their cellphones.

Mappings:
FrameNet: Statement
PropBank: observe.02
WordNet 2.1 Sense Numbers: 2