Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

      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.

      Let our object be, our country, our whole country, and
      nothing but our country.                    --D. Webster.

   4. Sight; show; appearance; aspect. [Obs.] --Shak.

            He, advancing close Up to the lake, past all the
            rest, arose In glorious object.       --Chapman.

   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.

   {Object glass}, the lens, or system of lenses, placed at the
      end of a telescope, microscope, etc., which is toward the
      object. Its office is to form an image of the object,
      which is then viewed by the eyepiece. Called also
      {objective}. 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.

Source : WordNet®

object lesson
     n : punishment intended as a warning to others; "they decided to
         make an example of him" [syn: {example}, {deterrent
         example}, {lesson}]