object staff

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]