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observance

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Observation
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ob⋅serv⋅ance

  [uhb-zur-vuhns]
Use observance in a Sentence
–noun
1. an act or instance of following, obeying, or conforming to: the observance of traffic laws.
2. a keeping or celebration by appropriate procedure, ceremonies, etc.: the observance of the Sabbath.
3. a procedure, ceremony, or rite, as for a particular occasion: patriotic observances.
4. a rule or custom to be followed or obeyed; a customary practice.
5. Roman Catholic Church.
a. a rule or discipline for a religious house or order.
b. a house or order observing a rule or discipline.
6. an act or instance of watching, noting, or perceiving; observation.
7. respectful attention or service.
8. Archaic. courteous attention as to a person; dutiful service.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME observaunce < OF < LL observantia, L: esteem, attention, deriv. of observant- (s. of observāns), prp. of observāre. See observe, -ance

Synonyms:
1. compliance, adherence, heedfulness.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Observation
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ob·ser·vance   (əb-zûr'vəns)   
n.  

  1. The act or practice of observing or complying with a law, custom, command, or rule.

  2. The act or custom of keeping or celebrating a holiday or other ritual occasion.

  3. A customary rite or ceremony.

  4. The act of watching; observation: "Consider how much intellect was needed in the architect, and how much observance of nature" (John Ruskin).

  5. Roman Catholic Church The rule governing a religious order.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

observance 
c.1225, "act performed in accordance with prescribed usage," esp. a religious or ceremonial one," from O.Fr. observance, from L. observantia "act of keeping customs, attention," from observantem (nom. observans), prp. of observare (see observe). Observance is the attending to and carrying out of a duty or rule. Observation is watching, noticing. Observant is attested from 1608; in ref. to Judaism, from 1902.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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