Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Obstacle
Ob′sta-cle
,Noun.
[F., fr. L. ]
obstaculum
, fr. obstare
to withstand, oppose; ob
(see Ob-
) + stare
to stand. See Stand
. and cf. Oust
, Verb.
That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction, physical or moral.
If all
And that my path were even to the crown.
obstacles
were cut away.And that my path were even to the crown.
Shakespeare
Syn. – Impediment; obstuction; hindrance; difficulty. See
Impediment
, and Obstruction
. Webster 1828 Edition
Obstacle
OB'STACLE
,Noun.
That which opposes; any thing that stands in the way and hinders progress; hinderance; obstruction, either in a physical or moral sense. An army may meet with obstacles on its march; bad roads are obstacles to traveling; prejudice is an obstacle to improvement; want of union is often an insuperable obstacle to beneficial measures.