OB'JECT, n. [L. objectum, objectus. See the Verb.]

Opposed; presented in opposition. [Not used.] Sandys.

1. That about which any power or faculty is employed, or something apprehended or presented to the mind by sensation or imagination. Thus that quality of a rose which is perceived by the sense of smell, is an object of perception. When the object is not in contact with the organ of sense, there must be some medium through which we obtain the perception of it. The impression which objects make on the senses, must be by the immediate application of them to the organs of sense, or by means of the medium that intervenes between the organs and the objects.
2. That to which the mind is directed for accomplishment or attainment; end; ultimate purpose. Happiness is the object of every man's desires; we all strive to attain to that object. Wealth and honor are pursued with eagerness as desirable objects.
3. Something presented to the senses or the mind, to excite emotion, affection or passion. This passenger felt some degree of concern at the sight of so moving an object. Atterbury. In this sense, the word uttered with a particular emphasis, signifies something that may strongly move our pity, abhorrence or disgust. What an object!
4. In grammar, that which is produced, influenced or acted on by something else; that which follows a transitive verb. When we say, “God created the world,” world denotes the thing produced, and is the object after the verb created. When we say, “the light affects the eye,” eye denotes that which is affected or acted on. When we say, “instruction directs the mind or opinions,” mind and opinions are the objects influenced.

To oppose in words or arguments; to offer reasons against. The counsel objected to the admission of the plaintif's witnesses.

1. To oppose; to, present in opposition. Pallas to their eyes / The mist objected, and condens'd the skies. Pope.
2. To present or offer in opposition, as a charge criminal, or as a reason adverse to something supposed to be erroneous or wrong; with to or against. The book – giveth liberty to object any crime against such as are to be ordered. Whitgifte. The adversaries of religion object against professors the irregularity of their lives, and too often with justice. Anon. There was this single fault that Erasmus, though an enemy, could abject to him. Atterbury.
3. To offer; to exhibit. [Little used.] Warburton.

1. To set before or against; to bring into opposition; to oppose.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Of less account some knight thereto object,
   Whose loss so great and harmful can not prove. Fairfax.

   Some strong impediment or other objecting itself. Hooker.

   Pallas to their eyes
   The mist objected, and condensed the skies. Pope.

2. To make opposition in words or argument; -- usually followed by to.
   
   
   Sir. T. More.
3. That which is put, or which may be regarded as put, in the way of some of the senses; something visible or tangible; as, he observed an object in the distance; all the objects in sight; he touched a strange object in the dark.
4. Opposed; presented in opposition; also, exposed.
   
   
   [Obs.]
5. To offer in opposition as a criminal charge or by way of accusation or reproach; to adduce as an objection or adverse reason.
   
   

   He gave to him to object his heinous crime. Spencer.

   Others object the poverty of the nation. Addison.

   The book . . . giveth liberty to object any crime against such as are to be ordered. Whitgift.

6. That 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.
   
   

   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.

   The object of their bitterest hatred. Macaulay.

7. That by 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; end; aim; motive; final cause.
   
   

   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.

   Let our object be, our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country. D. Webster.

8. Sight; show; appearance; aspect.
   
   
   [Obs.] Shak.

   He, advancing close
   Up to the lake, past all the rest, arose
   In glorious object. Chapman.

9. A word, phrase, or clause toward which an action is directed, or is considered to be directed; as, the object of a transitive verb.
   
   

   Object glass, the lens, or system of lenses, placed at the end of a telescope, microscope, etc., which is toward the object. Its office is to form an image of the object, which is then viewed by the eyepiece. Called also objective. 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.