obstacle

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“
The other obstacle was the affection the King of Spain bore to the House of Austria,--an affection which naturally would render him opposed to any project by which a rival house would be aggrandised at its expense As to the first obstacle, these politicians were of opinion that the renunciations made by Maria Theresa held good only as far as they applied to the object for which they were made.

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Definitions (10)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun One that opposes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress.
  2. Syntax Note
    Synonyms: obstacle, obstruction, bar1, barrier, block, hindrance, impediment, snag
    All of these nouns refer to something that prevents action or slows progress. Obstacle applies to something that stands in the way: "We combat obstacles in order to get repose” (Henry Adams).
    An obstruction makes passage or progress difficult: A sandbar is an obstruction to navigation.
    Bar and barrier suggest an obstruction that confines or prevents exit or entry: "Tyranny may always enter—there is no charm, no bar against it—the only bar against it is a large resolute breed of men” (Walt Whitman). "Literature is my Utopia.... No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourse of my book friends” (Helen Keller).
    Block suggests obstruction that effectively prevents all passage: I had a mental block and couldn't remember the date.
    Hindrance and impediment are applied to something that interferes with or delays passage or progress: "an attachment that would be a hindrance to him in any honorable career” (Thomas Hardy). Overcrowded classrooms are an impediment to learning.
    A snag is an unforeseen or hidden, often transitory obstacle: Due to a snag in plans, the project was delayed.

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Examples (50)

  • As soon as the obstacle was out of the way, Kelsey charged ahead, right into the two, his sword slashing and hacking mightily as he tried to score a quick kill. —  Spearwielder's Tale 3.htm
  • However, not knowing the locality they headed for an obstacle which is very unusual in these enormous plains, a large, deep gully, which owing to the perfect flatness of the surrounding country could not be distinguished from any distance. —  The Memoirs of General the Baron de Marbot
  • The other obstacle was the affection the King of Spain bore to the House of Austria,—an affection which naturally would render him opposed to any project by which a rival house would be aggrandised at its expense As to the first obstacle, these politicians were of opinion that the renunciations made by Maria Theresa held good only as far as they applied to the object for which they were made. —  The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, V3
  • For the peasant the obstacle was a boulder in the road.
  • Another obstacle is the lack of available troops but Pentagon officials said this week they are readying options for an accelerated drawdown of US forces from Iraq should president-elect Barack Obama request it. —  legitgov
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obstacle:   obstacles
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French, from Latin obstāculum, from obstāre, to hinder : ob-, against; see ob- + stāre, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English obstacle, from Old French obstacle, ostacle, French obstacle = Spanish obstáculo = Portuguese obstaculo = Italian ostacolo, from Late Latin obstaculum, a hindrance, obstacle, from Latin obstare, stand before, stand against, withstand, from ob, before, against, + stare, stand: see state, stand.
 

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/ˈɑbstəkl/
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