\Ob*serv"ance\, n. [F. observance, L. observantia.
See {Observant}.]
1. The act or practice of observing or noticing with
   attention; a heeding or keeping with care; performance; --
   usually with a sense of strictness and fidelity; as, the
   observance of the Sabbath is general; the strict
   observance of duties.
         It is a custom More honored in the breach than the
         observance.                           --Shak.
2. An act, ceremony, or rite, as of worship or respect;
   especially, a customary act or service of attention; a
   form; a practice; a rite; a custom.
         At dances These young folk kept their observances.
                                               --Chaucer.
         Use all the observance of civility.   --Shak.
         Some represent to themselves the whole of religion
         as consisting in a few easy observances. --Rogers.
         O I that wasted time to tend upon her, To compass
         her with sweet observances!           --Tennyson.
3. Servile attention; sycophancy. [Obs.]
         Salads and flesh, such as their haste could get,
         Served with observance.               --Chapman.
         This is not atheism, But court observance. --Beau. &
                                               Fl.
Syn: {Observance}, {Observation}. These words are
     discriminated by the two distinct senses of observe. To
     observe means (1) to keep strictly; as, to observe a
     fast day, and hence, observance denotes the keeping or
     heeding with strictness; (2) to consider attentively, or
     to remark; and hence, observation denotes either the act
     of observing, or some remark made as the result thereof.
     We do not say the observation of Sunday, though the word
     was formerly so used. The Pharisees were curious in
     external observances; the astronomers are curious in
     celestial observations.
           Love rigid honesty, And strict observance of
           impartial laws.                     --Roscommon.