Hypertext Webster Gateway: "obstacle"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Obstacle \Ob"sta*cle\, n. [F., fr. L. obstaculum, fr. obstare to
withstand, oppose; ob (see {Ob-}) + stare to stand. See
{Stand}. and cf. {Oust}, v.]
That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that
hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction, physical or
moral.
If all obstacles were cut away. And that my path were
even to the crown. --Shak.
Syn: Impediment; obstuction; hindrance; difficulty. See
{Impediment}, and {Obstruction}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
obstacle
n 1: something immaterial that stands in the way and must be
circumvented or surmounted: "lack of immagination is an
obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a
district is an obstacle to good education"; "the
filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of
their plan" [syn: {obstruction}]
2: an obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed
or surmounted or circumvented)
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