Office, of′is,n.settled duty or employment: a position imposing certain duties or giving a right to exercise an employment: business: act of worship: order or form of a religious service, either public or private: that which a thing is designed or fitted to do: a place where business is carried on: (pl.) acts of good or ill: service: the apartments of a house in which the domestics discharge their duties.—ns.Off′ice-bear′er, one who holds office: one who has an appointed duty to perform in connection with some company, society, &c.;Off′icer, one who holds an office: a person who performs some public duty: a person entrusted with responsibility in the army or navy.—v.t.to furnish with officers: to command, as officers.—adj.Offic′ial, pertaining to an office: depending on the proper office or authority: done by authority.—n.one who holds an office: a subordinate public officer: the deputy of a bishop, &c.—ns.Offic′ialism, official position: excessive devotion to official routine and detail;Official′ity,Offic′ialty, the charge, office, or jurisdiction of an official: the official headquarters of an ecclesiastical or other deliberative and governing body.—adv.Offic′ially.—n.Offic′iant, one who officiates at a religious service, one who administers a sacrament.—v.i.Offic′iāte, to perform the duties of an office: (withfor) to perform official duties in place of another.—n.Offic′iātor.—Give the office(slang), to suggest, supply information;Holy office, the Inquisition. [Fr.,—L.officium.]
Officinal, of-fis′i-nal,adj.belonging to, or used in, a shop: denoting an approved medicine kept prepared by apothecaries. [Fr.,—L.officina, a workshop—opus, work,facĕre, to do.]
Officious, of-fish′us,adj.too forward in offering services: overkind: intermeddling.—adv.Offic′iously.—n.Offic′iousness. [Fr.,—L.officiosus—officium.]
Offing, of′ing,n.the part of the sea more than half-way between the shore and the horizon.
Oft, oft,Often, of′n,adv.frequently: many times.—adj.Oft′en(B.), frequent.—n.Oft′enness, frequency.—advs.Oft′times,Oft′entimes, many times: frequently. [A.S.oft; Ger.oft, Goth.ufta.]
Ogee, ō-jē′,n.a wave-like moulding formed of a convex curve continued or followed by a concave one. [Fr.ogive.]
Ogham.
Ogham,Ogam, og′am,n.an ancient Irish writing, in straight lines crossing each other; one of the characters, twenty in number, of which it is formed.—adjs.Ogh′amic,Og′amic.
Ogive, ō′jiv,n.(archit.) a pointed arch or window.—adj.Ogī′val. [Fr.,—Sp.,—Ar.áwj, summit.]
Ogle, ō′gl,v.t.to look at fondly with side glances.—v.i.to cast amorous glances.—ns.O′gle;O′gler;O′gling. [Dut.oogen—ooge, the eye.]
Ogre, ō′gėr,n.a man-eating monster or giant of fairy tales:—fem.O′gress.—adj.O′greish. [Fr.ogre—Sp.ogro—L.orcus, the lower world.]
Ogygian, ō-jij′i-an,adj.pertaining to the mythical Attic kingOgўges, prehistoric, primeval.
Oh, ō,interj.denoting surprise, pain, sorrow, &c.
Ohm, ōm,n.the unit by which electrical resistance is measured, being nearly equal to that caused by a thousand feet of copper wire one-tenth of an inch in diameter.—Ohm's law(seeLaw). [Georg SimonOhm, a German electrician, 1787-1854.]
Oidium, ō-id′i-um,n.a genus of parasitic fungi, including the vine-mildew, &c. [Gr.ōon, an egg.]
Oil, oil,n.the juice from the fruit of the olive-tree: any greasy liquid.—v.t.to smear or anoint with oil.—ns.Oil′bag, a bag or cyst in animals containing oil;Oil′cake, a cake made of flax seed from which the oil has been pressed out;Oil′cloth, a painted floorcloth;Oil′-col′our, a colouring substance mixed with oil;Oil′er, one who, or that which, oils: an oil-can: (coll.) a coat of oilskin;Oil′ery, the commodities of an oil-man;Oil′-gas, illuminating gas or heating gas made by distilling oil in closed retorts;Oil′iness;Oil′-man, one who deals in oils;Oil′-mill, a grinding-mill for expressing oil from seeds, nuts, &c.;Oil′nut, the butter-nut of North America;Oil′-paint′ing, a picture painted in oil-colours: the art of painting in oil-colours;Oil′-palm, a palm whose fruit-pulp yields palm-oil;Oil′-press, a machine for expressing oils from seeds or pulp;Oil′skin, cloth made waterproof by means of oil: a garment made of oilskin;Oil′-spring, a spring whose water contains oily matter: a fissure or area from which petroleum, &c. oozes;Oil′stone, a fine-grained kind of stone used, when wetted with oil, for sharpening tools;Oil′-well, a boring made for petroleum.—adj.Oil′y, consisting of, containing, or having the qualities of oil: greasy.—Strike oil(seeStrike). [O. Fr.oile(Fr.huile)—L.oleum—Gr.elaion—elaia, the olive.]
Ointment, oint′ment,n.anything used in anointing: (med.) any greasy substance applied to diseased or wounded parts: (B.) a perfume. [O. Fr.,—L.unguentum—ungĕre, to smear.]
Okapi, ō′ka-pi,n.a giraffe-like animal of the Semliki forests of Central Africa.
Oke, ōk,n.a Turkish weight of 2¾ lb. avoirdupois.
Old, ōld,adj.advanced in years: having been long in existence: worn out: out of date, old-fashioned: ancient, former, antique, early: (coll.) great, high: having the age or duration of: long practised: sober, wise.—n.Old-clothes′man, one who buys cast-off garments.—v.i.Old′en, to grow old, to become affected by age.—adj.old, ancient.—adj.Old-fash′ioned, of a fashion like that used long ago: out of date: clinging to old things and old styles: with manners like those of a grown-up person (said of a child).—n.Old-fash′ionedness.—adjs.Old-fō′gyish, like an old fogy;Old-gen′tlemanly, characteristic of an old gentleman;Old′ish, somewhat old;Old′-light, denoting those of the Seceders from the Church of Scotland who continued to hold unchanged the principle of the connection between church and state—the position maintained by the first Seceders in 1733.—n.one of this body.—ns.Old-maid′hood,Old-maid′ism.—adj.Old-maid′ish, like the conventional old maid, prim.—ns.Old′ness;Old′ster(coll.), a man getting old: a midshipman of four years' standing, a master's mate.—adj.Old′-time, of or pertaining to times long gone by: of long standing: old-fashioned.—n.Old′-tim′er, one who has lived in a place or kept a position for a long time.—adjs.Old-wom′anish, like an old woman;Old′-world, belonging to earlier times, antiquated, old-fashioned.—n.the Eastern Hemisphere.—Old age, the later part of life;Old bachelor, an unmarried man somewhat advanced in years;Old English(seeEnglish): the form of black letter used by 16th-century English printers;Old gold, a dull gold colour like tarnished gold, used in textile fabrics;Old Harry,Nick,One, &c., the devil;Old Hundred, properlyOld Hundredth, a famous tune set in England about the middle of the 16th century to Kethe's version of the 100th Psalm, marked 'Old Hundredth' in Tate and Brady's new version in 1696;Old maid, a woman who has not been married, and is past the usual age of marriage: a simple game played by matching cards from a pack from which a card (usually a queen) has been removed;Old man, unregenerate human nature: (coll.) one's father, guardian, or employer (usually with 'the');Old Red Sandstone(seeSand);Old salt, an experienced sailor;Old school, of, or resembling, earlier days, old-fashioned;Old song, a mere trifle, a very small price;Old squaw, a sea-duck of the northern hemisphere—alsoOld wife;Old Style(often written with a date O.S.), the mode of reckoning time before 1752, according to the Julian calendar or year of 365¼ days;Old Testament(seeTestament);Old Tom, a strong kind of English gin;Old wife, a prating old woman, or even a man: a chimney-cap for curing smoking.—Of old, long ago, in ancient times, or belonging to such. [A.S.eald; Dut.oud; Ger.alt.]
Oleaginous, ō-lē-aj′in-us,adj.oily: (bot.) fleshy and oily: unctuous, sanctimonious, fawning.—n.Oleag′inousness. [L.oleaginus—oleum, oil.]
Oleander, ō-lē-an′dėr,n.an evergreen shrub with lance-shaped leathery leaves and beautiful red or white flowers, theRose BayorRose Laurel. [Fr., a corr. of Low L.lorandrum. Cf.Rhododendron.]
Oleaster, ō-lē-as′tėr,n.the wild olive. [L.,—olea, an olive-tree—Gr.elaia.]
Olecranon, ō-lē-krā′non,n.a process forming the upper end of the ulna.—adj.Olecrā′nal. [Gr.]
Olein, ō′lē-in,n.a natural fat, found in the fatty oils of animals and vegetables.—n.O′leāte, a salt of oleic acid.—adj.Olefī′ant, producing oil.—ns.Olefī′ant-gas, ethylene;O′lefine, any one of a group of hydrocarbons homologous with ethylene.—adjs.O′leic;Oleif′erous, producing oil, as seeds.—ns.Oleomar′garine, artificial butter at first made from pure beef-fat, now from oleo-oil, neutral lard, milk, cream, and pure butter, worked together, with a colouring matter;Oleom′eter, an instrument for determining the density of oils;O′leon, a liquid obtained from the distillation of olein and lime;Oleores′in, a native compound of an essential oil and a resin: a preparation of a fixed or volatile oil holding resin in solution;Oleosac′charum, a mixture of oil and sugar.—adjs.O′leōse,O′leous, oily. [L.oleum, oil.]
Olent, ō′lent,adj.smelling. [L.olēre, to smell.]
Oleograph, ō′lē-ō-graf,n.a print in oil-colours to imitate an oil-painting.—n.Oleog′raphy, the art of preparing such. [L.oleum, oil, Gr.graphein, to write.]
Oleraceous, ol-e-rā′shus,adj.of the nature of a pot-herb, for kitchen use. [L.]
Olfactory, ol-fak′tor-i,adj.pertaining to, or used in, smelling. [L.olfactāre, to smell—olēre, to smell,facĕre, to make.]
Olibanum, ō-lib′a-num,n.a gum-resin flowing from incisions in several species ofBoswelliain Somaliland and southern Arabia—theLebonahof the Hebrews,LibanosandLibanōtosof the Greeks.
Oligæmia, ol-i-jē′mi-a,n.abnormal deficiency of blood.
Oligarchy, ol′i-gärk-i,n.government by a small exclusive class: a state governed by such: a small body of men who have the supreme power of a state in their hands.—n.Ol′igarch, a member of an oligarchy.—adjs.Oligarch′al,Oligarch′ic,-al, pertaining to an oligarchy. [Fr.,—Gr.,oligos, few,archein, to rule.]
Oligist, ol′i-jist,n.a crystallised variety of hematite.
Oligocene, ol′i-gō-sēn,adj.(geol.) pertaining to a division of the Tertiary series, the rocks chiefly of fresh and brackish water origin, with intercalations of marine beds. [Gr.oligos, little,kainos, new.]
Oligochrome, ol′i-gō-krōm,adj.andn.painted in few colours. [Gr.oligos, few,chrōma, colour.]
Oligoclase, ol′i-gō-klās,n.a soda-lime triclinic feldspar.
Olio, ō′li-ō,n.a savoury dish of different sorts of meat and vegetables: a mixture: a medley, literary miscellany. [Sp.olla—L.olla, a pot.]
Oliphant, ol′i-fant,n.an ancient ivory hunting-horn: an obsolete form of elephant.
Olitory, ol′i-tō-ri,adj.andn.pertaining to kitchen-vegetables:—pl.Ol′itories. [L.olitor, gardener.]
Olive, ol′iv,n.a tree cultivated round the Mediterranean for its oily fruit: its fruit: peace, of which the olive was the emblem: a colour like the unripe olive.—adj.of a brownish-green colour like the olive.—adjs.Olivā′ceous, olive-coloured: olive-green;Ol′ivary, like olives.—ns.Ol′ivenite, a mineral consisting chiefly of arsenic acid and protoxide of iron;Ol′ive-oil, oil pressed from the fruit of the olive;Ol′ive-yard, a piece of ground on which olives are grown;Ol′ivine, chrysolite.—Olive branch, a symbol of peace: (pl.) children (Ps. cxxviii. 4;Pr. Bk.). [Fr.,—L.oliva—Gr.elaia.]
Oliver, ol′i-vėr,n.a forge-hammer worked by foot.
Oliverian, ol-i-vē′ri-an,adj.an adherent of the great Protector,OliverCromwell (1599-1658).
Olivet, ol′i-vet,n.an imitation pearl manufactured for trade with savages.
Olivetan, ol′i-vet-an,n.one of an order of Benedictine monks founded in 1313, the original house at MonteOliveto, near Siena.
Olla, ol′la,n.a jar or urn.—n.Ol′la-podrida(-po-drē′da),a Spanish mixed stew or hash of meat and vegetables: any incongruous mixture or miscellaneous collection. [Sp.,—L.olla, a pot.]
Ollam, ol′am,n.a doctor or master among the ancient Irish.—AlsoOll′amh. [Ir.]
Ology, ol′ō-ji,n.a science whose name ends in-ology,hence any science generally.
Olpe, ol′pē,n.a small Greek even-rimmed spoutless vase or jug. [Gr.]
Olympiad, ō-lim′pi-ad,n.in ancient Greece, a period of four years, being the interval from one celebration of the Olympic games to another, used in reckoning time (the date of the first Olympiad is 776B.C.).—adjs.Olym′pian,Olym′pic, pertaining to Olympia in Elis, where the Olympic games were celebrated, or to Mount Olympus in Thessaly, the seat of the gods.—n.a dweller in Olympus, one of the twelve greater gods of Greek mythology.—ns.pl.Olym′pics,Olym′picgames, games celebrated every four years at Olympia, dedicated to Olympian Zeus;Olym′pus, the abode of the gods, supposed to have been Mount Olympus in Thessaly. [Gr.olympias,-ados, belonging toOlympiain Elis.]
Omadhaun, om′a-dawn,n.a stupid, silly creature. [Ir.]
Omasum, ō-mā′sum,n.a ruminant's third stomach, the psalterium or manyplies.—adj.Omā′sal.
Ombre, om′bėr,n.a game of cards played with a pack of forty cards, usually by three persons. [Fr.,—Sp.hombre—L.homo, a man.]
Ombrometer, om-brom′e-tėr,n.a rain-gauge.
Omega, ō′meg-a, or ō-mē′ga,n.the last letter of the Greek alphabet: (B.) the end.—Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: the chief point or purpose (Rev. i. 8). [Gr.ō mega, the great or longO.]
Omelet,Omelette, om′e-let,n.a pancake chiefly of eggs, beaten up with flour, &c., and fried in a pan. [O. Fr.amelette(Fr.omelette), which through the formalemetteis traced toalemelle, the O. Fr. form of Fr.alumelle, a thin plate, a corr. oflemelle—L.lamella,lamina, a thin plate.]
Omen, ō′men,n.a sign of some future event, either good or evil: a foreboding.—v.i.andv.t.to prognosticate: to predict.—adj.O′mened, containing omens, mostly with prefixes, as ill-omened. [L. forosmen, that which is uttered by the mouth—L.os; or forausmen, that heard—audīre, to hear.]
Omentum, ō-men′tum,n.a fold of peritoneum, proceeding from one of the abdominal viscera to another:—pl.Omen′ta.—adj.Omen′tal.—Great omentum, the epiploon. [L.]
Omer, ō′mėr,n.a Hebrew dry measure containing about half a gallon,1⁄10ephah.
Omicron, ō-mī′kron,n.the shortoin the Greek alphabet.
Ominous, om′in-us,adj.pertaining to, or containing, an omen: foreboding evil: inauspicious.—adv.Om′inously.—n.Om′inousness.
Omit, ō-mit′,v.t.to leave out: to neglect: to fail: to make no use of:—pr.p.omit′ting;pa.t.andpa.p.omit′ted.—adj.Omiss′ible, that may be omitted.—n.Omiss′ion, act of omitting: the neglect or failure to do something required: that which is left out.—adj.Omiss′ive, omitting or leaving out.—n.Omit′tance, the act of omitting: the state of being omitted: forbearance. [L.omittĕre,omissum—ob, away,mittĕre, to send.]
Omlah, om′la,n.a staff of native clerks or officials in India. [Ar.]
Omni-, om′ni, from L.omnis, all, a combining form, as inadjs.Omnifā′rious, of all varieties or kinds;Omnif′erous, bearing or producing all kinds;Omnif′ic, all-creating;Om′niform, of, or capable of, every form.—n.Omniform′ity.—v.t.Om′nify(rare), to make universal.—adj.Omnig′enous, consisting of all kinds.—n.Omnipar′ity, general equality.—adjs.Omnip′arous, producing all things;Omnipā′tient, enduring all things.—ns.Omnip′otence,Omnip′otency, unlimited power—an attribute of God.—adj.Omnip′otent, all-powerful, possessing unlimited power.—adv.Omnip′otently.—n.Omnipres′ence, quality of being present everywhere at the same time—an attribute of God.—adj.Omnipres′ent, present everywhere at the same time.—n.Omnisc′ience, knowledge of all things—an attribute of God.—adj.Omnisc′ient, all-knowing: all-seeing: infinitely wise.—adv.Omnisc′iently.—adj.Omniv′orous, all-devouring: (zool.) feeding on both animal and vegetable food.—The Omnipotent, God.
Omnibus, om′ni-bus,adj.including all: covering many different cases or objects, as 'anomnibusclause.'—n.a large four-wheeled vehicle for passengers, chiefly between two fixed points:—pl.Om′nibuses. [Lit. 'for all,' L. dative pl. ofomnis, all.]
Omnium, om′ni-um,n.a Stock Exchange term for the aggregate value of the different stocks in which a loan is funded.—n.Om′nium-gath′erum(coll.), a miscellaneous collection of things or persons. [L., 'of all;' gen. pl. ofomnis, all.]
Omohyoid, ō-mō-hī′oid,adj.pertaining to the shoulder-blade, and to the lingual or hyoid bone—alsoOmohyoi′dean.—n.Omoi′deum, the pterygoid bone. [Gr.ōmos, the shoulder.]
Omophagous, ō-mof′a-gus,adj.eating raw flesh—alsoOmophag′ic.—n.Omophā′gia. [Gr.ōmos, raw,phagein, to eat.]
Omophorion, ō-mō-fō′ri-on,n.an eastern ecclesiastical vestment like the western pallium, worn over the phenolion by bishops and patriarchs at the eucharist, &c. [Gr.ōmos, the shoulder,pherein, to carry.]
Omoplate, ō′mō-plāt,n.the shoulder-blade or scapula.—n.Omoplatos′copy, scapulimancy. [Gr.ōmoplatē.]
Omosternum, ō-mō-ster′num,n.a median ossification of the coraco-scapular cartilages of a batrachian. [Gr.ōmos, the shoulder,sternon, the chest.]
Omphacite, om′fa-sīt,n.a grass-green granular variety of pyroxene, one of the constituents of eclogite.—adj.Om′phacine, pertaining to unripe fruit.
Omphalos, om′fal-us,n.the navel: a raised central point: a boss.—adj.Omphal′ic.—ns.Om′phalism, tendency to place the capital of a country at its geographical centre, or to increase the powers of central at the expense of local government;Omphalī′tis, inflammation of the umbilicus;Om′phalocele, umbilical hernia.—adj.Om′phaloid.—ns.Om′phalomancy, divination from the number of knots in the navel-string as to how many children the mother will bear;Omphalop′agus, a double monster united at the umbilicus;Omphalot′omy, cutting of the umbilical cord at birth. [Gr., the navel.]
On, on,prep., in contact with the upper part of: to and toward the surface of: upon or acting by contact with: not off: at or near: at or during: in addition to: toward, for: at the peril of: in consequence: immediately after: (B.) off.—adv.above, or next beyond: forward, in succession: in continuance: not off.—interj.go on! proceed!—adj.denoting the part of the field to the left of a right-handed batter, and to the right of the bowler—opp. toOff.[A.S.on; Dut.aan, Ice.á, Ger.an.]
On, on,prep.(Scot.) without.
Onager, on′ā-jėr,n.the wild ass of Central Asia. [L.,—Gr.onagros—onos, an ass,agros, wild.]
Onanism, ō′nan-izm,n.self-pollution.—n.O′nanist.—adj.Onanist′ic. [See Gen. xxxviii. 9.]
Once, ons,n.Same asOunce, the animal.
Once, wuns,adv.a single time: at a former time: at any time or circumstances.—n.one time.—Once and again, more than once: repeatedly;Once for all, once only and not again;Once in a way, on one occasion only: very rarely.—At once, without delay: alike: at the same time;For once, on one occasion only. [A.S.ánes, orig. gen. ofán, one, used as adv.]
Oncidium, on-sid′i-um,n.a widely-spread American genus of orchids. [Gr.ogkos, a hook.]
Oncology, ong-kol′o-ji,n.the science of tumours.—n.Oncot′omy, incision into, or excision of, a tumour.
Oncome, on′kum,n.(prov.) a sudden fall of rain or snow: the beginning of attack by some insidious disease.—n.On′coming, approach.
Oncometer, ong-com′e-tėr,n.an instrument for recording variations in volume, as of the kidney, &c.—n.On′cograph, an apparatus for recording such. [Gr.ogkos, bulk,metron, measure.]
Oncost, on′kost,n.all charges for labour in getting mineral, other than the miners' wages: payment to the collier in addition to the rate per ton.—n.pl.On′costmen, men who work in or about a mine at other work than cutting coal. [Onandcost.]
Ondine, on′din,n.a water-spirit, an undine.
Onding, on′ding,n.a sudden fall of rain or snow.
One, wun,pron.a person (indefinitely), as in 'one says:' any one: some one.—n.a single person or thing: a unit. [A special use of the numeralone; not conn. with Fr.on—L.homo, a man.]
One, wun,adj.single in number, position, or kind: undivided: the same: a certain, some, implying a name unknown or denoting insignificance or contempt, as 'oneGuy Fawkes, a Spaniard!'—adjs.One′-eyed, having but one eye: limited in vision;One′-hand′ed, single-handed;One′-horse, drawn by a single horse: petty, mean, inferior;One′-idea'd, entirely possessed by one idea.—ns.One′ness, singleness, unity;Oner(wun′ėr),one possessing some special skill, an adept (slang).—pron.Oneself′, one's self: himself or herself.—adj.One′-sid′ed, limited to one side: partial: (bot.) turned to one side.—adv.One′-sid′edly.—n.One′-sid′edness.—One another, each other;One by one, singly: in order;One day, on a certain day: at an indefinite time.—All one, just the same: of no consequence;At one, of one mind. [A.S.an; Ice.einn, Ger.ein.]
Oneiromancy, ō-nī′rō-man-si,n.the art of divining by dreams.—ns.Oneirocrit′ic,Onirocrit′ic, one who interprets dreams.—adjs.Oneirocrit′ic,-al.—ns.Oneirodyn′ia, nightmare;Oneirol′ogy, the doctrine of dreams;Onei′roscopist, an interpreter of dreams. [Gr.oneiros, a dream,manteia, divination.]
Onely, ōn′li,adv.(Spens.) only.
Onerous, on′ėr-us,adj.burdensome: oppressive.—adj.On′erary, fitted or intended for carrying burdens: comprising burdens.—adv.On′erously.—n.On′erousness. [L.onerosus—onus.]
Oneyer, wun′yėr,n.(1Hen. IV., II. i. 84) probably a person that converses with great ones—hardly, as Malone explains, an accountant of the exchequer, a banker. [No doubt formed fromone, like lawyer, sawyer, &c. Malone over-ingeniously refers to the marko.ni., an abbreviation of the Latin formoneretur, nisi habeat sufficientem exonerationem('let him be charged unless he have a sufficient discharge'), or explains as a misprint formoneyer.]
Ongoing, on′gō-ing,n.a going on: course of conduct: event: (pl.) proceedings, behaviour.
Onicolo, ō-nik′ō-lō,n.a variety of onyx for cameos, a bluish-white band on the dark ground. [It.]
Onion, un′yun,n.the name given to a few species of genusAllium, esp.Allium cepa, an edible biennial bulbous root.—adj.On′ion-eyed(Shak.), having the eyes full of tears.—n.On′ion-skin, a very thin variety of paper.—adj.On′iony. [Fr.oignon—L.unio,-onis—unus, one.]
Onlooker, on′lōōk-ėr,n.a looker on, observer.—adj.On′looking.
Only, ōn′li,adj.single in number or kind: this above all others: alone.—adv.in one manner: for one purpose: singly: merely: barely: entirely.—conj.but: except that.—n.On′liness. [A.S.ánlíc(adj.)—án, one,líc, like.]
Onocentaur, on-o-sen′tawr,n.a kind of centaur, half-man, half-ass.
Onoclea, on-ō-klē′a,n.a genus of aspidioid ferns, with contracted fertile fronds. [Gr.onos, a vessel,kleiein, to close.]
Onology, ō-nol′ō-ji,n.foolish talk.
Onomantic, on-ō-man′tik,adj.pertaining toOn′omancyor (obs.)Onomat′omancy, divination by names. [Gr.onoma, a name,manteia, divination.]
Onomastic, on-ō-mas′tik,adj.pertaining to a name, esp. pertaining to the signature to a paper written in another hand.—n.Onomas′ticon, a list of words: a vocabulary. [Gr., fromonoma, a name.]
Onomatology, on-ō-ma-tol′o-ji,n.the science of, or a treatise on, the derivation of names.—n.Onomatol′ogist, one versed in such. [Gr.onoma,onomatos, name,logia—legein, to discourse.]
Onomatopœia, on-ō-mat-o-pē′ya,n.the formation of a word so as to resemble the sound of the thing of which it is the name: such a word itself, also the use of such a word, as 'click,' 'cuckoo'—alsoOnomatopoē′sis, orOnomatopoiē′sis.—adjs.Onomatopœ′ic,Onomatopoet′ic. [Gr.onoma,-atos, a name,poiein, to make.]
Onset, on′set,n.violent attack: assault: storming. [Onandset.]
Onshore, on′shōr,adj.toward the land.
Onslaught, on′slawt,n.an attack or onset: assault. [A.S.on, on,sleaht, a stroke.]
Onst, wunst,adv.a vulgar form ofonce.
Onstead, on′sted,n.(Scot.) a farmstead, the farm buildings. [M. E.wone—A.S.wunian, to dwell,stead, place.]
Ontogenesis, on-tō-jen′e-sis,n.the history of the individual development of an organised being as distinguished fromphylogenesisandbiogenesis—alsoOntog′eny.—adjs.Ontogenet′ic,-al,Ontogen′ic.—adv.Ontogenet′ically. [Gr.onta, things being, neut. pl. ofōn, pr.p. ofeinai, to be,genesis, generation.]
Ontology, on-tol′o-ji,n.the science that treats of the principles of pure being: that part of metaphysics which treats of the nature and essence of things.—adjs.Ontolog′ic,-al.—adv.Ontolog′ically.—n.Ontol′ogist, one versed in ontology. [Gr.ōn,ontos, being pr.p. ofeinai, to be,logia—legein, to discourse.]
Onus, ō′nus,n.burden: responsibility.—Onus probandī, the burden of proving. [L.onus, burden.]
Onward, on′ward,adj.going on: advancing: advanced.—adv.(alsoOn′wards) toward a point on or in front: forward.
Onym, on′im,n.(zool.) the technical name of a species or other group.—adjs.On′ymal,Onymat′ic.—v.i.On′ymise.—n.On′ymy, the use of onyms.
Onyx, on′iks,n.(min.) an agate formed of layers of chalcedony of different colours, used for making cameos.—ns.Onych′ia, suppurative inflammation near the finger-nail;Onychī′tis, inflammation of the soft parts about the nail;Onych′ium, a little claw;On′ychomancy, divination by means of the finger-nails;Onychonō′sos, disease of the nails.—adj.Onychopath′ic, affected with such.—n.Onychō′sis, disease of the nails. [L.,—Gr.onyx,onychos, a finger-nail.]
Oodles, ōō′dlz,n.(U.S.) abundance.—AlsoOod′lins.
Oof, ōōf,n.(slang) money.
Oögenesis, ō-ō-jen′e-sis,n.the genesis and development of the ovum—alsoOög′eny.—adj.Oögenet′ic.
Oöidal, ō-oi′dal,adj.egg-shaped.
Oölite, ō′o-līt,n.(geol.) a kind of limestone, composed of grains like the eggs or roe of a fish.—adjs.Oölit′ic;Oölitif′erous. [Gr.ōon, an egg,lithos, stone.]
Oölogy, ō-ol′o-ji,n.the science or study of birds' eggs.—n.O′ögraph, a mechanical device for drawing the outline of a bird's egg.—adjs.Oölog′ic,-al.—adv.Oölog′ically.—ns.Oöl′ogist, one versed in oology;Oöm′eter, an apparatus for measuring eggs.—adj.Oömet′ric.—n.Oöm′etry, the measurement of eggs. [Gr.ōon, an egg.]
Oolong, ōō′long,n.a variety of black tea, with the flavour of green.—AlsoOu′long.
Oorie,Ourie, ōō′ri,adj.(Scot.) feeling cold or chill, shivering.
Ooze, ōōz,n.soft mud: gentle flow, as of water through sand or earth: a kind of mud in the bottom of the ocean: the liquor of a tan vat.—v.i.to flow gently: to percolate, as a liquid through pores or small openings.—adj.Ooz′y, resembling ooze: slimy. [M. E.wose—A.S.wase, mud; akin to A.S.wos, juice, Ice.vas, moisture.]
Opacity, ō-pas′i-ti,n.opaqueness: obscurity.
Opacous, ō-pā′kus,adj.Same asOpaque.
Opah, ō′pa,n.a sea-fish of the Dory family—also calledKingfish.
Opal, ō′pal,n.a precious stone of a milky hue, remarkable for its changing colours.—n.Opalesc′ence.—adjs.Opalesc′ent, reflecting a milky or pearly light from the interior;O′paline, relating to, or like, opal.—v.t.O′palise. [Fr.opale—L.opalus.]
Opaque, ō-pāk′,adj.shady: dark: that cannot be seen through: not transparent.—adv.Opaque′ly.—n.Opaque′ness, quality of being opaque: want of transparency. [Fr.,—L.opacus.]
Ope, ōp,v.t.andv.i.(poet.) short foropen.
Opeidocope, ō-pī′dō-skōp,n.an instrument for illustrating sound by means of light.
Open, ō′pn,adj.not shut: allowing one to pass out or in: free from trees: not fenced: not drawn together: spread out: not frozen up: not frosty: free to be used, &c.: public: without reserve: frank: easily understood: generous: liberal: clear: unbalanced, as an account: attentive: free to be discussed.—v.t.to make open: to remove hinderances: to bring to view: to explain: to begin.—v.i.to become open: to unclose: to be unclosed: to begin to appear: to begin.—n.a clear space.—n.O′pener.—adjs.O′pen-eyed(Shak.), watchful;O′pen-hand′ed, with an open hand: generous: liberal.—n.O′pen-hand′edness.—adj.O′pen-heart′ed, with an open heart: frank: generous.—ns.O′pen-heart′edness, liberality: generosity: frankness: candour;O′pening, an open place: a breach: an aperture: beginning: first appearance: opportunity.—adv.O′penly.—adj.O′pen-mind′ed, free from prejudice: ready to receive and consider new ideas.—n.O′pen-mind′edness.—adj.O′pen-mouthed, gaping: greedy: clamorous.—ns.O′penness;O′pen-ses′ame, a form of words which makes barriers fly open—from the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves in theArabian Nights' Entertainments;O′pen-steek(Scot.), a kind of open-work stitching;O′pen-work, any work showing openings through it for ornament.—adj.open-cast, of mining work in open air.—Open verdict(seeVerdict). [A.S.open—up, up; cf. Dut.open—op, Ice.opinn—upp, and Ger.offen—auf.]
Opera, op′ėr-a,n.a musical drama: a place where operas are performed.—adj.used in or for an opera, as anopera-glass,&c.—ns.Op′era-cloak, a cloak of elegant form and material for carrying into the auditorium of a theatre or opera-house as a protection against draughts;Op′era-danc′er, one who dances in ballets introduced into operas;Op′era-glass, a small glass or telescope for use at operas, theatres, &c.;Op′era-hat, a hat which can be made flat by compression and expanded again to its full size;Op′era-house, a theatre where operas are represented;Op′era-sing′er.—adjs.Operat′ic,-al, pertaining to or resembling the opera. [It.,—L.opera. Cf.Operate.]
Opera-bouffe, op′ėr-a-bōōf,n.a comic opera. [Fr.,—It.opera-buffa. Cf.Buffoon.]
Operate, op′ėr-āt,v.i.to work: to exert strength: to produce any effect: to exert moral power: (med.) to take effect upon the human system: (surg.) to perform some unusual act upon the body with the hand or an instrument.—v.t.to effect: to produce by agency.—n.Operam′eter, an instrument for indicating the number of movements made by a part of a machine.—adj.Op′erant, operative.—n.an operator.—n.Operā′tion, art or process of operating, or of being at work: that which is done or carried out: agency: influence: method of working: action or movements: surgical performance.—adj.Op′erātive, having the power of operating or acting: exerting force: producing effects: efficacious.—n.a workman in a manufactory: a labourer.—adv.Op′erātively.—ns.Op′erātiveness;Op′erātor, one who, or that which, operates or produces an effect: (math.) a letter, &c., signifying an operation to be performed. [L.operāri,-ātus—opera, work, closely conn. withopus,operis, work.]
Operculum, ō-pėr′kū-lum,n.(bot.) a cover or lid: (zool.) the plate over the entrance of a shell: the apparatus which protects the gills of fishes:—pl.Oper′cula.—adjs.Oper′cular, belonging to the operculum;Oper′culate,-d, having an operculum;Operculif′erous;Oper′culiform;Operculig′enous;Operculig′erous. [L.,—operīre, to cover.]
Operetta, op-ėr-et′a,n.a short, light musical drama. [It., dim. ofopera.]
Operose, op′ėr-ōz,adj.laborious: tedious.—adv.Op′erosely.—ns.Op′eroseness,Operos′ity.
Ophicleide, of′i-klīd,n.a large bass trumpet, with a deep pitch. [Fr.; coined from Gr.ophis, a serpent,kleis,kleidos, a key.]
Ophidian, o-fid′i-an,n.one of the true serpents, in which the ribs are the only organs of locomotion.—adjs.Ophid′ian,Ophid′ious, pertaining to serpents: having the nature of a serpent.—ns.Ophidiā′rium, a place where serpents are confined;Ophiog′raphy, the description of serpents;Ophiol′ater, a serpent-worshipper.—adj.Ophiol′atrous.—n.Ophiol′atry, serpent-worship.—adjs.Ophiolog′ic,-al.—ns.Ophiol′ogist, one versed in ophiology;Ophiol′ogy, the study of serpents;Oph′iomancy, divination by serpents.—adjs.Ophiomor′phic,Ophiomor′phous, having the form of a serpent;Ophioph′agous, feeding on serpents.—n.Oph′ite, one of a Gnostic sect who worshipped the serpent. [Gr.ophidion, dim. ofophis,opheōs, a serpent.]
Ophiura, of-i-ū′ra,n.a genus of sand-stars.—ns.andadjs.Ophiū′ran;Ophiū′roid. [Gr.ophis, serpent,oura, tail.]
Ophthalmia, of-thal′mi-a,n.inflammation of the eye—alsoOphthal′my.—adj.Ophthal′mic, pertaining to the eye.—ns.Ophthal′mist,Ophthalmol′ogist, one skilled in ophthalmology;Ophthalmī′tis, inflammation of the eyeball;Ophthalmodyn′ia, pain, esp. rheumatic pain, of the eye;Ophthalmog′raphy, a description of the eye.—adjs.Ophthalmolog′ic,-al.—ns.Ophthalmol′ogy, the science of the eye, its structure and functions;Ophthalmom′eter, an instrument for eye-measurements;Ophthalmom′etry, the making of such;Ophthalmoplē′gia, paralysis of one or more of the muscles of the eye;Ophthal′moscope, an instrument for examining the interior of the eye.—adjs.Ophthalmoscop′ic,-al.—adv.Ophthalmoscop′ically.—ns.Ophthal′moscopy, examination of the interior of the eye with the ophthalmoscope;Ophthalmot′omy, dissection of the eye: an incision into the eye. [Gr.,—ophthalmos, eye.]
Opiate, ō′pi-āt,n.a drug containing opium to induce sleep: that which dulls sensation, physical or mental.—adj.inducing sleep.—adj.O′piated.
Opine, o-pīn′,v.i.to suppose.—adj.Opin′able, capable of being thought.—ns.Opī′nant, one who forms an opinion;Opin′icus(her.), a half-lion, half-dragon. [Fr.,—L.opināri, to think.]
Opinion, ō-pin′yun,n.one's belief, judgment: favourable estimation: (Shak.) opinionativeness.—adjs.Opin′ionable, that may be matter of opinion;Opin′ionāted,Opin′ioned, firmly adhering to one's own opinions.—adv.Opin′ionātely(obs.).—adj.Opin′ionātive, unduly attached to one's own opinions: stubborn.—adv.Opin′ionātively.—ns.Opin′ionātiveness;Opin′ionist. [L.]
Opisometer, op-i-som′e-tėr,n.an instrument for measuring curved lines on a map. [Gr.opisō, backward,metron, measure.]
Opisthobranchiate, ō-pis-thō-brang′ki-āt,adj.having the gills behind the heart—n.Opisthobranch′ism.
Opisthocœlian, ō-pis-thō-sē′li-an,adj.hollow or concave behind, as a vertebra.—AlsoOpisthocœ′lous.
Opisthocomous, op-is-thok′ō-mus,adj.having an occipital crest.
Opisthodomos, op-is-thod′ō-mos,n.a rear-chamber or treasury at the back of the cella in some temples. [Gr.]
Opisthodont, ō-pis′thō-dont,adj.having back teeth only.
Opisthogastric, ō-pis-thō-gas′trik,adj.behind the stomach.
Opisthognathous, op-is-thog′nā-thus,adj.having retreating jaws or teeth.
Opisthograph, ō-pis′thō-graf,n.a manuscript or a slab inscribed on the back as well as the front.—adj.Opisthograph′ic, written on both sides.—n.Opisthog′raphy.
Opium, ō′pi-um,n.the narcotic juice of the white poppy.—n.O′pium-eat′er, one who makes a habitual use of opium. [L.,—Gr.opion, dim. fromopos, sap.]
Opobalsam, op-ō-bal′sam,n.a resinous juice, balm of Gilead.
Opodeldoc, op-ō-del′dok,n.a solution of soap in alcohol, with camphor and essential oils, soap-liniment. [Fr., perh. from Gr.opos, juice.]
Opopanax, ō-pop′a-naks,n.a gum-resin used in perfumery and formerly in medicine. [Gr., opos, juice,panax, a plant,panakēs, all-healing.]
Oporice, ō-por′i-sē,n.a medicine prepared from quinces, pomegranates, &c.
Opossum, o-pos′um,n.a small American marsupial mammal, nocturnal, mainly arboreal, with prehensile tail: an Australian marsupial. [West Indian.]
Oppidan, op′i-dan,n.at Eton, a student who is not a foundationer or colleger. [L.oppidanus—oppidum, town.]
Oppilation, op-i-lā′shun,n.stoppage.—v.t.Opp′ilate, to crowd together.—adj.Opp′ilātive, obstructive. [L.]
Opponent, ō-pō′nent,adj.opposing in action, speech, &c.: placed in front.—n.one who opposes.
Opportune, op-or-tūn′,adj.present at a proper time: timely: convenient.—adv.Opportune′ly.—ns.Opportune′ness;Opportun′ism, practice of regulating principles by favourable opportunities without regard to consistency;Opportun′ist, a politician who waits for events before declaring his opinions: a person without settled principles;Opportun′ity, an opportune or convenient time: a good occasion or chance. [Fr.,—L.opportunus—ob, before,portus, a harbour.]
Oppose, o-pōz′,v.t.to place before or in the way of: to set against: to place as an obstacle: to resist: to check: to compete with.—v.i.to make objection.—n.Opposabil′ity.—adjs.Oppos′able, that may be opposed;Oppose′less(Shak.), not to be opposed, irresistible.—n.Oppos′er, one who opposes.—v.t.andv.i.Oppos′it, to negative. [Fr.,—L.ob, Fr.poser, to place.]
Opposite, op′ō-zit,adj.placed over against: standing in front: situated on opposite sides: contrasted with: opposed to: of an entirely different nature.—n.that which is opposed or contrary: an opponent.—adv.Opp′ositely.—n.Opp′ositeness.—Be opposite with(Shak.), to be perverse and contradictory in dealing with. [Fr.,—L.oppositus—ob, against,ponĕre,positum, to place.]
Opposition, op-ō-zish′un,n.state of being placed over against: position over against: repugnance: contrariety: contrast: act or action of opposing: resistance: that which opposes: obstacle: (logic) a difference of quantity or quality between two propositions having the same subject and predicate: the party that opposes the ministry or existing administration: (astron.) the situation of heavenly bodies when 180 degrees apart.—n.Opposi′tionist, one who belongs to an opposing party, esp. that opposed to the government. [Opposite.]
Oppress, o-pres′,v.t.to press against or upon: to use severely: to burden: to lie heavy upon: to constrain: to overpower: to treat unjustly: to load with heavy burdens.—n.Oppress′ion, act of oppressing or treating unjustly or harshly: severity: cruelty: state of being oppressed: misery: hardship: injustice: dullness of spirits: (Shak.) pressure.—adj.Oppress′ive, tending to oppress: overburdensome: treating with severity or injustice: heavy: overpowering: difficult to bear.—adv.Oppress′ively.—ns.Oppress′iveness;Oppress′or, one who oppresses. [Fr.,—L.opprimĕre,oppressum—ob, against,premĕre, to press.]
Opprobrious, o-prō′bri-us,adj.expressive of opprobrium or disgrace: reproachful: infamous: despised.—adv.Opprō′briously.—ns.Opprō′briousness;Opprō′brium, reproach expressing contempt or disdain: disgrace: infamy. [L.,—ob, against,probrum, reproach.]
Oppugn, o-pūn′,v.t.to fight against, esp. by argument: to oppose: to resist.—n.Oppugn′er. [Fr.,—L.oppugnāre, to fight against—ob, against,pugna, a fight.]
Oppugnancy, o-pug′nan-si,n.(Shak.) opposition, resistance.—adj.Oppug′nant, opposing: hostile.—n.an opponent. [L.oppugnans,-antis,pr.p.ofoppugnāre.]
Opsimathy, op-sim′a-thi,n.learning obtained late in life. [Gr.,—opse, late,mathein, to learn.]
Opsiometer, op-si-om′e-tėr,n.an optometer.
Opsonium, op-sō′ni-um,n.anything eaten with bread as a relish, esp. fish.—ns.Opsomā′nia, any morbid love for some special kind of food;Opsomā′niac, one who manifests the foregoing. [Gr.opsōnion—opson, strictly boiled meat, any relish.]
Optative, op′ta-tiv, or op-tā′tiv,adj.expressing desire or wish.—n.(gram.) a mood of the verb expressing wish.—adv.Op′tatively. [L.optativus—optāre,-ātum, to wish.]
Optic,-al, op′tik, -al,adj.relating to sight, or to optics.—n.Op′tic(Pope), an organ of sight: an eye.—adv.Op′tically.—ns.Optic′ian, one skilled in optics: one who makes or sells optical instruments;Op′tics(sing.), the science of the nature and laws of vision and light;Optim′eter,Optom′eter, an instrument for measuring the refractive powers of the eye;Optom′etry, the measurement of the visual powers.—Optic axis, the axis of the eye—that is, a line going through the middle of the pupil and the centre of the eye. [Fr.optique—Gr.optikos.]
Optime, op′ti-mē,n.in the university of Cambridge, one of those in the second or third rank of honours (seniorandjunior optimesrespectively), next to the wranglers.—n.pl.Optimā′tes, the Roman aristocracy. [L.optimus, best.]
Optimism, op′ti-mizm,n.the doctrine that everything is ordered for the best: a disposition to take a hopeful view of things—opp. toPessimism.—v.i.Op′timise, to take the most hopeful view of anything.—n.Op′timist, one who holds that everything is ordered for the best.—adj.Optimist′ic.—adv.Optimist′ically.—n.Op′timum(bot.), that point of temperature at which metabolic—i.e. vegetative and fructificative processes are best carried on. [L.optimus, best.]
Option, op′shun,n.act of choosing: power of choosing or wishing: wish.—adj.Op′tional, left to one's option or choice.—adv.Op′tionally.—n.Op′tions, a mode of speculating, chiefly in stocks and shares, which is intended to limit the speculator's risk. It consists in paying a sum down for the right toput(make delivery) orcall(call for delivery) a given amount of stock at a fixed future date, the price also being fixed at the time the contract is entered into.—Local option(seeLocal). [L.optio,optionis—optāre, to choose.]
Optometer,Optometry. SeeOptic.
Opulent, op′ū-lent,adj.wealthy.—n.Op′ulence, means: riches: wealth.—adv.Op′ulently. [Fr.,—L.op-ulentus.]
Opuntia, ō-pun′shi-a,n.a genus of cacti.
Opus, ō′pus,n.work, a work.—Opus magnum, the great work of one's life;Opus operantis(theol.), the effect of a sacrament ascribed chiefly, if not exclusively, to the spiritual disposition of the recipient, the grace flowingex opere operantis—the Protestant view;Opus operatum, the due celebration of a sacrament necessarily involving the grace of the sacrament, which flowsex opere operatofrom the sacramental act performed independent of the merit of him who administers it—the R.C. view.
Opuscule, ō-pus′kūl,n.a little work.—AlsoOpus′cle,Opus′culum. [L.opusculum, dim. ofopus, work.]
Or, or,adv.ere, before. [Ere.]
Or, or,conj.marking an alternative, and sometimes opposition [short forother, modern Eng.either].—prep.(B.) before. [In this sense a corr. ofere.]
Or, or,n.(her.) gold. [Fr.,—L.aurum, gold.]
Orach,Orache, or′ach,n.one of several European plants used as spinach. [Fr.arroche.]
Oracle, or′a-kl,n.the answer spoken or uttered by the gods: the place where responses were given, and the deities supposed to give them: a person famed for wisdom: a wise decision: (B.) the sanctuary: (pl.) the revelations made to the prophets: the word of God.—adj.Orac′ular, delivering oracles: resembling oracles: grave: venerable: not to be disputed: ambiguous: obscure—alsoOrac′ulous.—ns.Oracular′ity,Orac′ularness.—adv.Orac′ularly. [Fr.,—L.ora-culum, double dim. fromorāre, to speak—os,oris, the mouth.]
Oragious, ō-rā′jus,adj.stormy. [Fr.]
Oraison, or′i-zun,n.(Shak.). Same asOrison.
Oral, ō′ral,adj.uttered by the mouth: spoken, not written.—adv.O′rally. [L.os,oris, the mouth.]
Orale, or-ā′le,n.a white silk veil, with coloured stripes, sometimes worn by the Pope.
Orang, ō-rang′,n.SeeOrang-outang.
Orange, or′anj,n.a delightful gold-coloured fruit with a thick, rough skin, within which are usually from eight to ten juicy divisions: the tree on which it grows: a colour composed of red and yellow.—adj.pertaining to an orange: orange-coloured.—ns.Orangeāde′, a drink made with orange juice;Or′ange-bloss′om, the white blossom of the orange-tree, worn by brides.—adj.Or′ange-col′oured, having the colour of an orange.—ns.Or′ange-lil′y, a garden-plant with large orange flowers;Or′ange-peel, the rind of an orange separated from the pulp;Or′angery, a plantation of orange-trees: an orange-garden.—adj.Or′ange-taw′ny(Shak.), of a colour between orange and brown.—n.the colour itself.—n.Or′ange-wife(Shak.), a woman who sells oranges. [Fr.,—It.arancio—Pers.naranj, thenbeing dropped; it was thought to come from L.aurum, gold, hence Low L.aurantium.]
Orangeman, or′anj-man,n.a member of a society instituted in Ireland in 1795 to uphold Protestantism, or the cause of William ofOrange—a secret society since its formal suppression in 1835 after a protracted parliamentary inquiry.—adj.Or′ange.—n.Or′angeism. [From the principality ofOrange(L.Arausio), near Avignon, ruled by its own sovereigns from the 11th to the 16th century, passing by the last heiress in 1531 to the Count of Nassau, father of William the Silent.]
Orang-outang, ō-rang′-ōō-tang′,n.an anthropoid ape, found only in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo, reddish-brown, arboreal in habit.—AlsoOrang′andOrang′-utan′. [Malay, 'man of the woods.']
Orant, ō′rant,n.a worshipping figure in ancient Greek and early Christian art.
Orarian, ō-rā′ri-an,adj.pertaining to the coast. [L.ora, the shore.]
Orarion, ō-rā′ri-on,n.a deacon's stole in the Eastern Church.
Orarium, ō-rā′ri-um,n.a linen neckcloth or handkerchief: a scarf attached to a bishop's staff. [L.os,oris, the mouth.]
Orarium, ō-rā′ri-um,n.a collection of private devotions. [L.orāre, to pray.]
Oration, ō-rā′shun,n.a public speech of a formal character: an eloquent speech.—n.Oratiun′cle, a brief speech. [Fr.,—L.oratio—orāre, to pray.]
Orator, or′a-tor,n.a public speaker: a man of eloquence: a spokesman or advocate:—fem.Or′atress,Or′atrix.—v.i.Or′āte, to deliver an oration.—adjs.Oratō′rial;Orator′ical, pertaining to oratory: becoming an orator.—adv.Orator′ically.—n.Or′atory, the art of speaking well, or so as to please and persuade, esp. publicly: the exercise of eloquence: an apartment or building for private worship: one of various congregations in the R.C. Church, esp. the Fathers of the Oratory, established by St Philip Neri (1515-95): a religious house of theirs.
Oratorio, or-a-tō′ri-ō,n.a sacred story set to music, which, as in the opera, requires soloists, chorus, and full orchestra for its performance, the theatrical adjuncts, however, of scenery, costumes, and acting bring dispensed with. [It., so called because first performed in theOratoryof the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, near Rome, under the care of St Philip Neri (1571-94).]
Orb, orb,adj.(obs.) bereft, esp. of children. [L.orbus.]
Orb, orb,n.a circle: a sphere: a celestial body: a wheel: any rolling body: the eye: (archit.) a blank window or panel: the globe forming part of regalia, the monde or mound: the space within which the astrological influence of a planet operates.—v.t.to surround: to form into an orb.—adjs.Or′bate;Orbed, in the form of an orb; circular;Orbic′ular, having the form of an orb or sphere: spherical: round.—n.Orbiculā′ris, a muscle surrounding an opening.—adv.Orbic′ularly.—n.Orbic′ularness.—adjs.Orbic′ulate,-d, made in the form of an orb.—n.Orbiculā′tion.—adj.Or′by, orbed. [L.orbis, circle.]
Orbilius, or-bil′i-us,n.a flogging schoolmaster—from Horace's master.
Orbit, or′bit,n.the path in which one of the heavenly bodies, as a planet, moves round another, as the sun: the hollow in the bone in which the eyeball rests—alsoOr′bita: the skin round the eye.—adjs.Or′bital,Or′bitary. [L.orbita—orbis, a ring.]
Orc, ork,n.any whale, the grampus. [L.orca.]
Orcadian, or-kā′di-an,adj.of or pertaining to the Orkney Islands.—n.an inhabitant or a native of the Orkneys. [L.Orcades.]
Orchard, or′chard,n.a garden of fruit-trees, esp. of apple-trees, also the enclosure containing such.—ns.Or′chard-house, a glass house for cultivating fruits without artificial heat;Or′charding;Or′chardist. [A.S.orceard—older formort-geard.]
Orchella-weed=Archil(q. v.).
Orcheocele, or-ke-o-sēl′,n.a tumour or inflammation of the testicle.—ns.Orchial′gia, pain, esp. neuralgia, in a testicle;Orchidec′tomy,Orchot′omy, the excision of a testicle;Orchiodyn′ia, pain in a testicle;Orchī′tis, inflammation of a testicle.—adj.Orchit′ic. [Gr.orchis, a testicle,kēlē, a tumour.]