obstacle

obstacle
obstacle (n.) mid-14c., from O.Fr. obstacle, ostacle "hindrance" (13c.), from L. obstaculum "a hindrance, obstacle," with instrumental suffix *-tlom + obstare "stand opposite to, block, hinder," from ob "against" (see OB- (Cf. ob-)) + stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see STET (Cf. stet)).
The lover thinks more often of reaching his mistress than the husband of guarding his wife; the prisoner thinks more often of escaping than the gaoler of shutting his door; and so, whatever the obstacles may be, the lover and the prisoner ought to succeed. [Stendhal, "Charterhouse of Parma"]
Obstacle course is attested from 1891.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • obstacle — [ ɔpstakl ] n. m. • 1220; lat. obstaculum, de obstare « se tenir (stare) devant » 1 ♦ Ce qui s oppose au passage, gêne le mouvement. Le vent « ne rencontre aucun obstacle naturel sur le plateau » (Camus). « la voiture fit un écart pour ne pas… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Obstacle 1 — «Obstacle 1» Сингл I …   Википедия

  • Obstacle 1 — Single by Interpol from the album Turn On the Bright Lights Released November 11, 2002 September 15, 2003 (Reissue) …   Wikipedia

  • Obstacle — to traffic caused by a collapse in highway 140, in Ferguson, state of California (USA), on 21 April 2008 02:36:01 PM PDT An obstacle (also called a barrier or a stumbling block) is an object, thing, action or situation that causes an obstruction …   Wikipedia

  • obstacle — OBSTACLE. s. m. Empeschement, opposition, ce qui empesche qu une chose ne soit, ne se fasse, ne reüssisse. Grand obstacle. obstacle invincible. vaincre un obstacle. surmonter un obstacle. former des obstacles. faire naistre un obstacle, des… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • obstacle — obstacle, obstruction, impediment, bar, snag denote something which seriously hampers action or progress. Obstacle, which is used of both material and immaterial things, applies to an object, condition, or situation which stands in one s way and… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • obstacle — [äb′stə kəl] n. [OFr < L obstaculum, obstacle < obstare, to withstand < ob (see OB ) + stare, to STAND] anything that gets in the way or hinders; impediment; obstruction; hindrance SYN. OBSTACLE is used of anything which literally or… …   English World dictionary

  • Obstacle — Ob sta*cle, n. [F., fr. L. obstaculum, fr. obstare to withstand, oppose; ob (see {Ob }) + stare to stand. See {Stand}. and cf. {Oust}, v.] That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • obstacle — I noun arrest, balk, barricade, barrier, block, bridle, catch, check, constraint, curb, dam, delay, detainment, difficulty, disallowance, drawback, embargo, enjoining, estoppel, fence, forbiddance, hamper, handicap, hindrance, hurdle, impediment …   Law dictionary

  • obstacle — [n] impediment, barrier bar, block, booby trap*, bump*, catch, Catch 22*, check, clog*, crimp*, difficulty, disincentive, encumbrance, hamper, handicap, hang up*, hardship, hindrance, hitch*, hurdle, interference, interruption, joker*, monkey… …   New thesaurus

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