Object lesson

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

The object of their bitterest hatred. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Let our object be, our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country. --D. Webster. [1913 Webster]

4. Sight; show; appearance; aspect. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

He, advancing close Up to the lake, past all the rest, arose In glorious object. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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}. [PJC]

{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. [1913 Webster]