2. Causing or provoking hatred, repugnance, or disgust; offensive; disagreeable; repulsive; as, an odious sight; an odious smell. Milton. The odious side of that polity. Macaulay.
Syn.— Hateful; detestable; abominable; disgusting; loathsome;invidious; repulsive; forbidding; unpopular.— O"di*ous`ly. adv.— O"di*ous*ness, n.
ODISTOd"ist, n.
Defn: A writer of an ode or odes.
ODIUMO"di*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. odi I hate. Gr. Annoy, Noisome.]
1. Hatred; dislike; as, his conduct brought him into odium, or, brought odium upon him.
2. The quality that provokes hatred; offensiveness. She threw the odium of the fact on me. Dryden. Odium theologicum ( Etym: [L.], the enmity peculiar to contending theologians.
Syn. — Hatred; abhorrence; detestation; antipathy. — Odium, Hatred. We exercise hatred; we endure odium. The former has an active sense, the latter a passive one. We speak of having a hatred for a man, but not of having an odium toward him. A tyrant incurs odium. The odium of an offense may sometimes fall unjustly upon one who is innocent. I wish I had a cause to seek him there, To oppose his hatred fully. Shak. You have…dexterously thrown some of the odium of your polity upon that middle class which you despise. Beaconsfield.
ODIZEOd"ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Odized p. pr. & vb. n. Odizing.]
Defn: To charge with od. See Od. [Archaic]
ODMYLOd"myl, n. Etym: [Gr. -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A volatile liquid obtained by boiling sulphur with linseed oil.It has an unpleasant garlic odor.
ODOGRAPHO"do*graph, n. [Gr. way + -graph.]
1. A machine for registering the distance traversed by a vehicle or pedestrain.
2. A device for recording the length and rapidity of stride and the number of steps taken by a walker.
ODOMETERO*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. odométre, hodométre.]
Defn: An instrument attached to the wheel of a vehicle, to measure the distance traversed; also, a wheel used by surveyors, which registers the miles and rods traversed.
ODOMETRICALO`do*met"ric*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. odométrique, hodométrique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the odometer, or to measurements made with it.
ODOMETROUSO*dom"e*trous, a.
Defn: Serving to measure distance on a road. [R.] Sydney Smith.
ODOMETRYO*dom"e*try, n.
Defn: Measurement of distances by the odometer.
ODONATAO*don"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of insects that includes the dragon flies.
ODONTALGIAO`don*tal"gi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Toothache.
ODONTALGICO`don*tal"gic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. odontalgique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to odontalgia.— n.
Defn: A remedy for the toothache.
ODONTALGYO`don*tal"gy, n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Odontalgia.
ODONTIASISO`don*ti"a*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: Cutting of the teeth; dentition.
ODONTO-O*don"to-.
Defn: A combining form from Gr.
ODONTOBLASTO*don"to*blast, n. Etym: [Odonto- + -blast.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the more or less columnar cells on the outer surface of the pulp of a tooth; an odontoplast. They are supposed to be connected with the formation of dentine.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the cells which secrete the chitinous teeth of Mollusca.
ODONTOCETEO*don`to*ce"te, n.pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A subdivision of Cetacea, including the sperm whale, dolphins, etc.; the toothed whales.
ODONTOGENYO`don*tog"e*ny, n. Etym: [Odonto- + root of Gr. odontogénie.](Physiol.)
Defn: Generetion, or mode of development, of the teeth.
ODONTOGRAPHO*don"to*graph, n. Etym: [Odonto- + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for marking or laying off the outlines of teeth of gear wheels.
ODONTOGRAPHICO*don`to*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to odontography.
ODONTOGRAPHYO`don*tog"ra*phy, n.
Defn: A description of the teeth.
ODONTOID O*don"toid, a. Etym: [Gr. odontoïde.] (Anat.) (a) Having the form of a tooth; toothlike. (b) Of or pertaining to the odontoid bone or to the odontoid process. Odontoid bone (Anat.), a separate bone, in many reptiles, corresponding to the odontoid process. — Odontoid process, or Odontoid peg (Anat.), the anterior process of the centrum of the second vertebra, or axis, in birds and mammals. See Axis.
ODONTOLCAEO`don*tol"cae, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct order of ostrichlike aquatic birds having teeth, which are set in a groove in the jaw. It includes Hesperornis, and allied genera. See Hesperornis. [Written also Odontholcae, and Odontoholcae.]
ODONTOLITEO*don"to*lite, n. Etym: [Odonto- + -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A fossil tooth colored a bright blue by phosphate of iron. It is used as an imitation of turquoise, and hence called bone turquoise.
ODONTOLOGYO`don*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Odonto- + -logy: cf.F. odontologie.]
Defn: The science which treats of the teeth, their structure and development.
ODONTOPHORAO`don*toph"o*ra, n.pl. Etym: [NL. See Odontophore.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Cephalophora.
ODONTOPHOREO*don"to*phore, n. Etym: [Odonto- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A special structure found in the mouth of most mollusks, except bivalves. It consists of several muscles and a cartilage which supports a chitinous radula, or lingual ribbon, armed with teeth. Also applied to the radula alone. See Radula.
ODONTOPHOROUSO`don*toph"o*rous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having an odontophore.
ODONTOPLASTO*don"to*plast, n. Etym: [Odonto- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: An odontoblast.
ODONTOPTERYX O`don*top"te*ryx, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth + pte`ryx a wing.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct Eocene bird having the jaws strongly serrated, or dentated, but destitute of true teeth. It was found near London.
ODONTORNITHES O*don`tor*ni*"thes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr.Gr. 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth + (Paleon.)
Defn: A group of Mesozoic birds having the jaws armed with teeth, as in most other vertebrates. They have been divided into three orders: Odontolcæ, Odontotormæ, and Saururæ.
ODONTOSTOMATOUSO*don"to*stom"a*tous, a. Etym: [Odonto- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having toothlike mandibles; — applied to certain insects.
ODONTOTORMAEO*don`to*tor"mae, n.pl. Etym: [NL., fr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An order of extinct toothed birds having the teeth in sockets, as in the genus Ichthyornis. See Ichthyornis.
ODORO"dor, n. Etym: [OE. odor, odour, OF. odor, odour, F. odeur, fr. L.odor; akin to olere to smell, Gr. Olfactory, Osmium, Ozone,Redolent.] [Written also odour.]
Defn: Any smell, whether fragrant or offensive; scent; perfume.Meseemed I smelt a garden of sweet flowers, That dainty odors fromthem threw around. Spenser.To be in bad odor, to be out of favor, or in bad repute.
ODORAMENTO"dor*a*ment, n. Etym: [L. odoramentum. See Odorate.]
Defn: A perfume; a strong scent. [Obs.] Burton.
ODORANTO"dor*ant, a. Etym: [L.odorans, -antis, p.pr.]
Defn: Yielding odors; fragrant. Holland.
ODORATE O"dor*ate, a. Etym: [L. odoratus, p.p. of odorare to perfume, fr. odor odor.]
Defn: Odorous. [Obos.] Bacon.
ODORATINGO"dor*a*`ting, a.
Defn: Diffusing odor or scent; fragrant.
ODORIFEROUSO`dor*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. odorifer; odor odor + ferre to bear.See Odoe, and st Bear.]
Defn: Bearing or yielding an odor; perfumed; usually, sweet of scent; fragrant; as, odoriferous spices, particles, fumes, breezes. Milton. — O`dor*if"er*ous*ly, adv. —O`dor*if"er*ous*ness, n.
ODORINEO"dor*ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A pungent oily substance obtained by redistilling bone oil.[Obs.]
ODORLESSO"dor*less, a.
Defn: Free from odor.
ODOROUS O"dor*ous, a. [Written also odourous.] Etym: [L. odorus, fr.odor odor: cf. OF. odoros, odoreux.]
Defn: Having or emitting an odor or scent, esp. a sweet odor;fragrant; sweet-smelling. "Odorous bloom." Keble.Such fragrant flowers do give most odorous smell. Spenser.— O"dor*ous*ly, adv.— O"dor*ous*ness, n.
ODSOds, interj.
Defn: A corruption of God's; — formerly used in oaths and ejaculatory phrases. "Ods bodikin." "Ods pity." Shak.
ODYL; ODYLEOd"yl, Od"yle, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)
Defn: See Od. [Archaic].
ODYLICO*dyl"ic, a. (Physics)
Defn: Of or pertaining to odyle; odic; as, odylic force. [Archaic]
ODYSSEYOd"ys*sey, n. Etym: [L. Odyssea, Gr. Odyssée.]
Defn: An epic poem attributed to Homer, which describes the return ofUlysses to Ithaca after the siege of Troy.
OEOE (e),
Defn: a diphthong, employed in the Latin language, and thence in the English language, as the representative of the Greek diphthong oe. In many words in common use, e alone stands instead of oe. Classicists prefer to write the diphthong oe separate in Latin words.
OECOIDOe"coid, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: The colorless porous framework, or stroma, of red blood corpuscles from which the zooid, or hemoglobin and other substances of the corpuscles, may be dissolved out.
OECOLOGYOE*col"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.-logy.] (Biol.)
Defn: The various relations of animals and plants to one another and to the outer world.
OECONOMICALOE`co*nom"ic*al, a.
Defn: See Economical.
OECONOMICSOE`co*nom"ics, n.
Defn: See Economics.
OECONOMYOE*con"o*my, n.
Defn: See Economy.
OECUMENICALOEc`u*men"ic*al, a.
Defn: See Ecumenical.
OEDEMAOE*de"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A swelling from effusion of watery fluid in the cellular tissue beneath the skin or mucous membrance; dropsy of the subcutaneous cellular tissue. [Written also edema.]
OEDEMATOUSOE*dem"a*tous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, edema; affected with edema.
OEIL-DE-BOEUFOil`-de-bouf", n.; pl. Oils-de-bouf (#). [F., lit., eye of an ox.](Arch.)
Defn: A circular or oval window; — generally used of architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries. A famous room in the palace of Versailles bears this name, from the oval window opening into it.
OEIL-DE-PERDRIXOil`-de-per`drix", a. [F., lit., eye of a partridge.]
1. (Ornamental Art) Characterized by, or decorated with, small round points, spots, or rings; as, oil-de-perdrix pattern.
2. Having a brownish red color; — used esp. of light-colored red wine.
OEILIAD; OEILLADEOE*il"iad, OEil"lade`, n. Etym: [F. oeillade, fr. oeel eye. SeeEyelent.]
Defn: A glance of the eye; an amorous look. [Obs.]She gave strange oeillades and most speaking looks. Shak.
OELETOE"let, n. Etym: [See Eyelet.]
Defn: An eye, bud, or shoot, as of a plant; an oilet. [Obs.] Holland.
OENANTHATEOE*nan"thate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of the supposed oenanthic acid.
OENANTHICOE*nan"thic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Having, or imparting, the odor characteristic of the bouquet of wine; specifically used, formerly, to designate an acid whose ethereal salts were supposed to occasion the peculiar bouquet, or aroma, of old wine. Cf. OEnanthylic. OEnanthic acid, an acid obtained from oenanthic ether by the action of alkalies. — OEnanthic ether, an ethereal substance (not to be confused with the bouquet, or aroma, of wine) found in wine lees, and consisting of a complex mixture of the ethereal salts of several of the higher acids of the acetic acid series. It has an ethereal odor, and it used in flavoring artificial wines and liquors. Called also oil of wine. See Essential oil, under Essential.
OENANTHOLOE*nan"thol, n. Etym: [oenanthylic + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oily substance obtained by the distillation of castor oil, recognized as the aldehyde of oenanthylic acid, and hence called also oenanthaldehyde.
OENANTHONEOE*nan"thone, n. Etym: [oenanthic + -one] (Chem.)
Defn: The ketone of oenanthic acid.
OENANTHYLOE*nan"thyl, n. Etym: [oennthic + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon radical formerly supposed to exist in oenanthic acid, now known to be identical with heptyl.
OENANTHYLATEOE*nan"thyl*ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of oenanthylic acid; as, potassium oenanthylate.
OENANTHYLICOE`nan*thyl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, oenanthyl; specifically, designating an acid formerly supposed to be identical with the acid in oenanthic ether, but now known to be identical with heptoic acid.
OENANTHYLIDENEOE`nan*thyl"i*dene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid hydrocarbon, having a garlic odor; heptine.
OENANTHYLOUSOE*nan"thyl*ous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid formerly supposed to be the acid of oenanthylic ether, but now known to be a mixture of higher acids, especially capric acid. [Obs.]
OENOCYANOE`no*cy"an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: The coloring matter of red wines.
OENOLOGYOE*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: Knowledge of wine, scientific or practical.
OENOMANIA OEn`o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) Delirium tremens. Rayer. (b) Dipsomania.
OENOMELOEn"o*mel, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Wine mixed with honey; mead, [R.]
OENOMETEROE*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: See Alcoholometer.
OENOPHILISTOE*noph"i*list, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A lover of wine. [R.] Thackeray.
OENOTHIONICOE`no*thi*on"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. thionic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to an acid now called sulphovinic, or ethyl sulphuric, acid.
O'ERO'er, prep. & adv.
Defn: A contr. of Over. [Poetic]
OERSTEDOer"sted, n. [After Hans Christian Oersted, Danish physicist.](Elec.)
Defn: The C.G.S. unit of magnetic reluctance or resistance, equal to the reluctance of a centimeter cube of air (or vacuum) between parallel faces. Also, a reluctance in which unit magnetomotive force sets up unit flux.
OESOPHAGUS; OESOPHAGEALOE*soph"a*gus, n., OE`so*phag"e*al, a., etc.
Defn: Same as Esophagus, Esophageal, etc.
OESTRIANOEs"tri*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the gadflies.— n.
Defn: A gadfly.
OESTRUALOEs"tru*al, a. Etym: [See OEstrus.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to sexual desire; — mostly applied to brute animals; as, the oestrual period; oestrual influence.
OESTRUATIONOEs`tru*a"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The state of being under oestrual influence, or of having sexual desire.
OESTRUSOEs"trus, n. Etym: [L., a gadfly; also, frenzy, fr.Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of gadflies. The species which deposits its larvæ in the nasal cavities of sheep is oestrus ovis.
2. A vehement desire; esp. (Physiol.), the periodical sexual impulse of animals; heat; rut.
OF Of, prep. Etym: [AS. of of, from, off; akin to D. & OS. af, G. ab off, OHG. aba from, away, Icel., Dan., Sw., & Goth. af, L. ab, Gr. apa. Cf.Off, A- (2), Ab-, After, Epi-.]
Defn: In a general sense, from, or out from; proceeding from; belonging to; relating to; concerning; — used in a variety of applications; as:
1. Denoting that from which anything proceeds; indicating origin, source, descent, and the like; as, he is of a race of kings; he is of noble blood. That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke i. 35. I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. 1 Cor. xi. 23.
2. Denoting possession or ownership, or the relation of subject to attribute; as, the apartment of the consul: the power of the king; a man of courage; the gate of heaven. "Poor of spirit." Macaulay.
3. Denoting the material of which anything is composed, or that which it contains; as, a throne of gold; a sword of steel; a wreath of mist; a cup of water.
4. Denoting part of an aggregate or whole; belonging to a number or quantity mentioned; out of; from amongst; as, of this little he had some to spare; some of the mines were unproductive; most of the company. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. Lam. iii. 22. It is a duty to communicate of those blessings we have received. Franklin.
5. Denoting that by which a person or thing is actuated or impelled; also, the source of a purpose or action; as, they went of their own will; no body can move of itself; he did it of necessity. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Josh. xi. 20.
6. Denoting reference to a thing; about; concerning; relating to; as, to boast of one's achievements. Knew you of this fair work Shak.
7. Denoting nearness or distance, either in space or time; from; as, within a league of the town; within an hour of the appointed time.
8. Denoting identity or equivalence; — used with a name or appellation, and equivalent to the relation of apposition; as, the continent of America; the city of Rome; the Island of Cuba.
9. Denoting the agent, or person by whom, or thing by which, anythingis, or is done; by.And told to her of [by] some. Chaucer.He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. Luke iv. 15.[Jesus] being forty days tempted of the devil. Luke iv. 1, 2.
Note: The use of the word in this sense, as applied to persons, is nearly obsolete.
10. Denoting relation to place or time; belonging to, or connected with; as, men of Athens; the people of the Middle Ages; in the days of Herod.
11. Denoting passage from one state to another; from. [Obs.] "O miserable of happy." Milton.
12. During; in the course of. Not be seen to wink of all the day. Shak. My custom always of the afternoon. Shak.
Note: Of may be used in a subjective or an objective sense. "The love of God" may mean, our love for God, or God's love for us.
Note: From is the primary sense of this preposition; a sense retained in off, the same word differently written for distinction. But this radical sense disappears in most of its application; as, a man of genius; a man of rare endowments; a fossil of a red color, or of an hexagonal figure; he lost all hope of relief; an affair of the cabinet; he is a man of decayed fortune; what is the price of corn In these and similar phrases, of denotes property or possession, or a relation of some sort involving connection. These applications, however all proceeded from the same primary sense. That which proceeds from, or is produced by, a person or thing, either has had, or still has, a close connection with the same; and hence the word was applied to cases of mere connection, not involving at all the idea of separation. Of consequence, of importance, value, or influence. — Of late, recently; in time not long past. — Of old, formerly; in time long past. — Of one's self, by one's self; without help or prompting; spontaneously. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself England is safe, if true within itself Shak.
OFF Off, adv. Etym: [OE. of, orig. the same word as R. of, prep., AS. of, adv. & prep. *194. See Of.]
Defn: In a general sense, denoting from or away from; as:
1. Denoting distance or separation; as, the house is a mile off.
2. Denoting the action of removing or separating; separation; as, to take off the hat or cloak; to cut off, to pare off, to clip off, to peel off, to tear off, to march off, to fly off, and the like.
3. Denoting a leaving, abandonment, departure, abatement, interruption, or remission; as, the fever goes off; the pain goes off; the game is off; all bets are off.
4. Denoting a different direction; not on or towards: away; as, to look off.
5. Denoting opposition or negation. [Obs.] The questions no way touch upon puritanism, either off or on. Bp. Sanderson. From off, off from; off. "A live coal…taken with the tongs from off the altar." Is. vi. 6. — Off and on. (a) Not constantly; not regularly; now and then; occasionally. (b) (Naut.) On different tacks, now toward, and now away from, the land. — To be off. (a) To depart; to escape; as, he was off without a moment's warning. (b) To be abandoned, as an agreement or purpose; as, the bet was declared to be off. [Colloq.] — To come off, To cut off, To fall off, To go off, etc. See under Come, Cut, Fall, Go, etc. — To get off. (a) To utter; to discharge; as, to get off a joke. (b) To go away; to escape; as, to get off easily from a trial. [Colloq.] — To take off, to mimic or personate. — To tell off (Mil.), to divide and practice a regiment or company in the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general parade for field exercises. Farrow. — To be well off, to be in good condition. — To be ill off, To be badly off, to be in poor condition.
OFFOff, interj.
Defn: Away; begone; — a command to depart.
OFFOff, prep.
Defn: Not on; away from; as, to be off one's legs or off the bed; two miles off the shore. Addison. Off hand. See Offhand. — Off side (Football), out of play; — said when a player has got in front of the ball in a scrimmage, or when the ball has been last touched by one of his own side behind him. — To be off color, to be of a wrong color. — To be off one's food, to have no appetite. (Colloq.)
OFFOff, a.
1. On the farther side; most distant; on the side of an animal or a team farthest from the driver when he is on foot; in the United States, the right side; as, the off horse or ox in a team, in distinction from the Ant: nigh or Ant: near horse or ox; the off leg.
2. Designating a time when one is not strictly attentive to business or affairs, or is absent from his post, and, hence, a time when affairs are not urgent; as, he took an off day for fishing: an off year in politics. "In the off season." Thackeray. Off side. (a) The right hand side in driving; the farther side. See Gee. (b) (Cricket) See Off, n.
OFFOff, n. (Cricket)
Defn: The side of the field that is on the right of the wicket keeper.
OFFALOf"fal, n. Etym: [Off + fall.]
1. The rejected or waste parts of a butchered animal.
2. A dead body; carrion. Shak.
3. That which is thrown away as worthless or unfit for use; refuse; rubbish. The off als of other profession. South.
OFFCUTOff"cut`, n.
1. That which is cut off.
2. (Bookbinding)
Defn: A portion ofthe printed sheet, in certain sizes of books, that is cut off before folding.
OFFENCEOf*fence", n.
Defn: See Offense.
OFFENDOf*fend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Offended; p. pr. & vb. n. Offending.]Etym: [OF. offendre, L. offendere, offensum; ob (see Ob-) + fendere(in comp.) to thrust, dash. See Defend.]
1. To strike against; to attack; to assail. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
2. To displease; to make angry; to affront. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city. Prov. xviii. 19.
3. To be offensive to; to harm; to pain; to annoy; as, strong light offends the eye; to offend the conscience.
4. To transgress; to violate; to sin against. [Obs.] Marry, sir, he hath offended the law. Shak.
5. (Script.)
Defn: To oppose or obstruct in duty; to cause to stumble; to cause to sin or to fall. [Obs.] Who hath you misboden or offended. Chaucer. If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out… And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off. Matt. v. 29, 3O. Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Ps. cxix. 165.
OFFENDOf*fend", v. i.
1. To transgress the moral or divine law; to commit a crime; to stumble; to sin. Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James ii. 10. If it be a sin to cevet honor, I am the most offending soul alive. Shak.
2. To cause dislike, anger, or vexation; to displease. I shall offend, either to detain or give it. Shak. To offend against, to do an injury or wrong to; to commit an offense against. "We have offended against the Lord already." 2 Chron. xxviii. 13.
OFFENDANTOf*fend"ant, n.
Defn: An offender. [R.] Holland.
OFFENDEROf*fend"er, n.
Defn: One who offends; one who violates any law, divine or human; awrongdoer.I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. 1 Kings i. 21.
OFFENDRESSOf*fend"ress, n.
Defn: A woman who offends. Shak.
OFFENSE; OFFENCEOf*fense", Of*fence", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. offensa. See Offend.]
1. The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25. I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. Dryden.
2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure. He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. Sir P. Sidney.
3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [Obs.] Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matt. xviii. 7.
Note: This word, like expense, is often spelled with a c. It ought, however, to undergo the same change with expense, the reasons being the same, namely, that s must be used in offensive as in expensive, and is found in the Latin offensio, and the French offense. To take offense, to feel, or assume to be, injured or affronted; to become angry or hostile. — Weapons of offense, those which are used in attack, in distinction from those of defense, which are used to repel.
Syn. — Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult.
OFFENSEFULOf*fense"ful, a.
Defn: Causing offense; displeasing; wrong; as, an offenseful act.[R.]
OFFENSELESSOf*fense"less, a.
Defn: Unoffending; inoffensive.
OFFENSIBLEOf*fen"si*ble, a.
Defn: That may give offense. [Obs.]
OFFENSIONOf*fen"sion, n. Etym: [OF., fr. L. offensio an offense.]
Defn: Assault; attack. [Obs.] Chaucer.
OFFENSIVEOf*fen"sive, a. Etym: [Cf.F. offensif. See Offend.]
1. Giving offense; causing displeasure or resentment; displeasing; annoying; as, offensive words.
2. Giving pain or unpleasant sensations; disagreeable; revolting; noxious; as, an offensive smell; offensive sounds. "Offensive to the stomach." Bacon.
3. Making the first attack; assailant; aggressive; hence, used in attacking; — opposed to defensive; as, an offensive war; offensive weapons. League offensive and defensive, a leaque that requires all the parties to it to make war together against any foe, and to defend one another if attacked.
Syn. — Displeasing; disagreeable; distasteful; obnoxious; abhorrent; disgusting; impertinent; rude; saucy; reproachful; opprobrious; insulting; insolent; abusive; scurrilous; assailant; attacking; invading. — Of*fen"sive*ly, adv. — Of*fen"sive*ness, n.
OFFENSIVEOf*fen"sive, n.
Defn: The state or posture of one who offends or makes attack; aggressive attitude; the act of the attacking party; — opposed to defensive. To act on the offensive, to be the attacking party.
OFFER Of"fer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Offered; p. pr. & vb. n. Offering.] Etym: [OE. offren, AS. offrian to sacrifice, fr. L. offerre; ob (see OB-) + ferre to bear, bring. The English word was influenced by F. offrir to offer, of the same origin. See 1st Bear.]
1. To present, as an act of worship; to immolate; to sacrifice; to present in prayer or devotion; — often with up. Thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement. Ex. xxix. 36. A holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. 1 Pet. ii. 5.
2. To bring to or before; to hold out to; to present for acceptance or rejection; as, to offer a present, or a bribe; to offer one's self in marriage. I offer thee three things. 2 Sam. xxiv. 12.
3. To present in words; to proffer; to make a proposal of; to suggest; as, to offer an opinion. With the infinitive as an objective: To make an offer; to declare one's willingness; as, he offered to help me.
4. To attempt; to undertake. All that offer to defend him. Shak.
5. To bid, as a price, reward, or wages; as, to offer a guinea for a ring; to offer a salary or reward.
6. To put in opposition to; to manifest in an offensive way; to threaten; as, to offer violence, attack, etc.
Syn.— To propose; propound; move; proffer; tender; sacrifice; immolate.
OFFEROf"fer, v. i.
1. To present itself; to be at hand. The occasion offers, and the youth complies. Dryden.
2. To make an attempt; to make an essay or a trial; — used with at."Without offering at any other remedy." Swift.He would be offering at the shepherd's voice. L'Estrange.I will not offer at that I can not master. Bacon.
OFFEROf"fer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. offre, fr. offrir to offer, fr. L. offerre.See Offer, v. t.]
1. The act of offering, bringing forward, proposing, or bidding; a proffer; a first advance. "This offer comes from mercy." Shak.
2. That which is offered or brought forward; a proposal to be accepted or rejected; a sum offered; a bid. When offers are disdained, and love denied. Pope.
3. Attempt; endeavor; essay; as, he made an offer to catch the ball. "Some offer and attempt." South.
OFFERABLEOf"fer*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being offered; suitable or worthy to be offered.
OFFEREROf"fer*er, n.
Defn: One who offers; esp., one who offers something to God in worship. Hooker.
OFFERINGOf"fer*ing, n.
1. The act of an offerer; a proffering.
2. That which is offered, esp. in divine service; that which is presented as an expiation or atonement for sin, or as a free gift; a sacrifice; an oblation; as, sin offering. They are polluted offerings more abhorred Than spotted livers in the sacrifice. Shak.
3. A sum of money offered, as in church service; as, a missionary offering. Specif.: (Ch. of Eng.) Personal tithes payable according to custom, either at certain seasons as Christmas or Easter, or on certain occasions as marriages or christenings. [None] to the offering before her should go. Chaucer. Burnt offering, Drink offering, etc. See under Burnt. etc.
OFFERTORY Of"fer*to*ry, n.; pl. Offertories . Etym: [L. offertorium the place to which offerings were brought, in LL. offertory: cf.F. offertoire.]
1. The act of offering, or the thing offered. [Obs. or R.] Bacon. Bp. Fell.
2. (R.C.Ch.) (a) An anthem chanted, or a voluntary played on the organ, during the offering and first part of the Mass. (b) That part of the Mass which the priest reads before uncovering the chalice to offer up the elements for consecration. (c) The oblation of the elements.
3. (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.) (a) The Scripture sentences said or sung during the collection of the offerings. (b) The offerings themselves.
OFFERTUREOf"fer*ture, n. Etym: [LL. offertura an offering.]
Defn: Offer; proposal; overture. [Obs.]More offertures and advantages to his crown. Milton.
OFFHANDOff"hand`, a.
Defn: Instant; ready; extemporaneous; as, an offhand speech; offhand excuses. — adv.
Defn: In an offhand manner; as, he replied offhand.
OFFICE Of"fice, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. officium, for opificium; ops ability, wealth, holp + facere to do or make. See Opulent, Fact.]
1. That which a person does, either voluntarily or by appointment, for, or with reference to, others; customary duty, or a duty that arises from the relations of man to man; as, kind offices, pious offices. I would I could do a good office between you. Shak.
2. A special duty, trust, charge, or position, conferred by authority and for a public purpose; a position of trust or authority; as, an executive or judical office; a municipal office.
3. A charge or trust, of a sacred nature, conferred by God himself; as, the office of a priest under the old dispensation, and that of the apostles in the new. Inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office. Rom. xi. 13.
4. That which is performed, intended, or assigned to be done, by a particular thing, or that which anything is fitted to perform; a function; — answering to duty in intelligent beings. They [the eyes] resign their office and their light. Shak. Hesperus, whose office is to bring Twilight upon the earth. Milton. In this experiment the several intervals of the teeth of the comb do the office of so many prisms. Sir I. Newton.
5. The place where a particular kind of business or service for others is transacted; a house or apartment in which public officers and others transact business; as, the register's office; a lawyer's office.
6. The company or corporation, or persons collectively, whose place of business is in an office; as, I have notified the office.
7. pl.
Defn: The apartments or outhouses in which the domestics dischargethe duties attached to the service of a house, as kitchens, pantries,stables, etc. [Eng.]As for the offices, let them stand at distance. Bacon.
8. (Eccl.)
Defn: Any service other than that of ordination and the Mass; anyprescribed religious service.This morning was read in the church, after the office was done, thedeclaration setting forth the late conspiracy against the king'sperson. Evelyn.Holy office. Same as Inquisition, n., 3.— Houses of office. Same as def. 7 above. Chaucer.— Little office (R.C.Ch.), an office recited in honor of the VirginMary.— Office bearer, an officer; one who has a specific office or dutyto perform.— Office copy (Law), an authenticated or certified copy of arecord, from the proper office. See Certified copies, under Copy.Abbott.— Office-found (Law), the finding of an inquest of office. Seeunder Inquest.— Office holder. See Officeholder in the Vocabulary
OFFICEOf`fice, v. t.
Defn: To perform, as the duties of an office; to discharge. [Obs.]Shak.
OFFICEHOLDEROf"fice*hold"er, n.
Defn: An officer, particularly one in the civil service; a placeman.
OFFICEROf"fi*cer, n. Etym: [F. officier. See Office, and cf. Official, n.]
1. One who holds an office; a person lawfully invested with an office, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical; as, a church officer; a police officer; a staff officer. "I am an officer of state." Shak.
2. (U. S. Mil.)
Defn: Specifically, a commissioned officer, in distinction from a warrant officer. Field officer, General officer, etc. See under Field, General. etc. — Officer of the day (Mil.), the officer who, on a given day, has charge for that day of the quard, prisoners, and police of the post or camp. — Officer of the deck, or Officer of the watch (Naut.), the officer temporarily in charge on the deck of a vessel, esp. a war vessel.
OFFICEROf"fi*cer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Officered; p. pr. & vb. n.Officering.]
1. To furnish with officers; to appoint officers over. Marshall.
2. To command as an officer; as, veterans from old regiments officered the recruits.
OFFICE WIREOf"fice wire`. (Elec.)
Defn: Copper wire with a strong but light insulation, used in wiring houses, etc.
OFFICIAL Of*fi"cial, a. Etym: [L. officialis: cf. F. officiel. See Office, and cf. Official, n.]
1. Of or pertaining to an office or public trust; as, officialduties, or routine.That, in the official marks invested, you Anon do meet the senate.Shak.
2. Derived from the proper office or officer, or from the proper authority; made or communicated by virtue of authority; as, an official statement or report.
3. (Pharm.)
Defn: Approved by authority; sanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; as, an official drug or preparation. Cf. Officinal.
4. Discharging an office or function. [Obs.] The stomach and other parts official unto nutrition. Sir T. Browne.
OFFICIAL Of*fi"cial, n. Etym: [L. officialis a magistrate's servant or attendant: cf.F. official. See Official, a., and cf. Officer.]
1. One who holds an office; esp., a subordinate executive officer or attendant.
2. An ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc., with charge of the spiritual jurisdiction. Blackstone.
OFFICIALISMOf*fi"cial*ism, n.
Defn: The state of being official; a system of official government; also, adherence to office routine; red-tapism. Officialism may often drift into blunders. Smiles.
OFFICIALITYOf*fi`ci*al`i*ty, n.
Defn: See Officialty.
OFFICIALLYOf*fi"cial*ly, adv.
Defn: By the proper officer; by virtue of the proper authority; in pursuance of the special powers vested in an officer or office; as, accounts or reports officially vertified or rendered; letters officially communicated; persons officially notified.
OFFICIALTYOf*fi"cial*ty, n. Etym: [Cf.F. officialité.]
Defn: The charge, office, court, or jurisdiction of an official.Ayliffe.
OFFICIANTOf*fi"ciant, n. Etym: [L. officians, p.pr. See Officiate.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The officer who officiates or performs an office, as the burial office. Shipley.
OFFICIARYOf*fi"ci*a*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an office or an officer; official. [R.]Heylin.
OFFICIATEOf*fi"ci*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Officiated; p. pr. & vb. n.Officiating.] Etym: [LL. officiare. See Office.]
Defn: To act as an officer in performing a duty; to transact the business of an office or public trust; to conduct a public service. Bp. Stillingfleet.
OFFICIATEOf*fi"ci*ate, v. t.
Defn: To discharge, perform, or supply, as an official duty orfunction. [Obs.]Merely to officiate light Round this opacous earth. Milton.
OFFICIATOROf*fi"ci*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who officiates. Tylor.
OFFICINAL Of*fic"i*nal, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. officina a workshop, contr.fr. opificina, fr. opifex a workman; opus work + facere to make or do.]
1. Used in a shop, or belonging to it. [Obs. or R.] Johnson.
2. (Pharm.)
Defn: Kept in stock by apothecaries; — said of such drugs and medicines as may be obtained without special preparation or compounding; not magistral.
Note: This term is often interchanged with official, but in strict use officinal drugs are not necessarily official. See Official, a., 3.
OFFICIOUSOf*fi"cious, a. Etym: [L. officiosus: cf.F. officieux. See Office.]
1. Pertaining to, or being in accordance with, duty. [R.] If there were any lie in the case, it could be no more than as officious and venial one. Note on Gen. xxvii. (Douay version).
2. Disposed to serve; kind; obliging. [Archaic] Yet not to earth are those bright luminaries Officious. Milton. They were tolerably well bred, very officious, humane, and hospitable. Burke.
3. Importunately interposing services; intermeddling in affairs in which one has no concern; meddlesome. You are too officious In her behalf that scorns your services. Shak.
Syn.— Impertinent; meddling. See Impertinent.— Of*fi"cious*ly, adv.— Of*fi"cious*ness, n.
OFFINGOff"ing, n. Etym: [From Off.]
Defn: That part of the sea at a good distance from the shore, or where there is deep water and no need of a pilot; also, distance from the shore; as, the ship had ten miles offing; we saw a ship in the offing.
OFFISHOff"ish, a.
Defn: Shy or distant in manner. [Colloq. U.S.]
OFFLETOff"let, n. Etym: [Off + let.]
Defn: A pipe to let off water.
OFFPRINTOff"print`, n.
Defn: A reprint or excerpt.
OFFPRINTOff`print", v. t. [Off + print.]
Defn: To reprint (as an excerpt); as, the articles of some magazines are offprinted from other magazines.
OFFSCOURINGOff"scour`ing, n. Etym: [Off + scour.]
Defn: That which is scoured off; hence, refuse; rejected matter; that which is vile or despised. Lam. iii. 45.
OFFSCUMOff"scum`, n. Etym: [Off + scum.]
Defn: Removed scum; refuse; dross.
OFFSETOff"set`, n. Etym: [Off + set. Cf. Set-off.]
Defn: In general, that which is set off, from, before, or against, something; as: —
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A short prostrate shoot, which takes root and produces a tuft of leaves, etc. See Illust. of Houseleek.
2. A sum, account, or value set off against another sum or account, as an equivalent; hence, anything which is given in exchange or retaliation; a set-off.
3. A spur from a range of hills or mountains.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: A horizontal ledge on the face of a wall, formed by a diminution of its thickness, or by the weathering or upper surface of a part built out from it; — called also set-off.
5. (Surv.)
Defn: A short distance measured at right angles from a line actually run to some point in an irregular boundary, or to some object.
6. (Mech.)
Defn: An abrupt bend in an object, as a rod, by which one part is turned aside out of line, but nearly parallel, with the rest; the part thus bent aside.
7. (Print.)
Defn: A more or less distinct transfer of a printed page or picture to the opposite page, when the pages are pressed together before the ink is dry or when it is poor. Offset staff (Surv.), a rod, usually ten links long, used in measuring offsets.
OFFSETOff*set", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Offset; p. pr. & vb. n. Offsetting.]
1. To set off; to place over against; to balance; as, to offset one account or charge against another.
2. To form an offset in, as in a wall, rod, pipe, etc.
OFFSETOff"set, v. i. (Printing)
Defn: To make an offset.
OFFSHOOTOff"shoot`, n. Etym: [Off + shoot.]
Defn: That which shoots off or separates from a main stem, channel, family, race, etc.; as, the offshoots of a tree.
OFFSHOREOff"shore", a.
Defn: From the shore; as, an offshore wind; an offshore signal.
OFFSKIPOff"skip`, n. Etym: [Off + -skip, as in landskip.] (Paint.)
Defn: That part of a landscape which recedes from the spectator into distance. [R.] Fairholt.
OFFSPRINGOff"spring`, n.sing. & pl. Etym: [Off + spring.]
1. The act of production; generation. [Obs.]
2. That which is produced; a child or children; a descendant or descendants, however remote from the stock. To the gods alone Our future offspring and our wives are known. Dryden.
3. Origin; lineage; family. [Obs.] Fairfax.
OFFTAKEOff"take`, n. [Off + take.]
1. Act of taking off; specif., the taking off or purchase of goods.
2. Something taken off; a deduction.
3. A channel for taking away air or water; also, the point of beginning of such a channel; a take-off.
OFFUSCATE; OFFUSCATIONOf*fus"cate, Of`fus*ca`tion.
Defn: See Obfuscate, Obfuscation. [Obs.]
OFTOft (ôft; 115), adv. Etym: [AS. oft; akin to OS. & G. oft, OHG. ofto,Sw. ofta, Dan. ofte, Icel.opt, Goth. ufta; of uncertain origin. Cf.Often.]
Defn: Often; frequently; not rarely; many times. [Poetic] Chaucer.Oft she rejects, but never once offends. Pope.
OFTOft, a.
Defn: Frequent; often; repeated. [Poetic]
OFTEN Of`ten, adv. [Compar. Oftener; superl. Oftenest.] Etym: [Formerly also ofte, fr. oft. See Oft., adv.]
Defn: Frequently; many times; not seldom.
OFTENOf"ten, a.
Defn: Frequent; common; repeated. [R.] "Thine often infirmities." 1Tim. v. 23.And weary thee with often welcomes. Beau. & Fl.
OFTENNESSOf"ten*ness, n.
Defn: Frequency. Hooker.
OFTENSITHOf"ten*sith, adv. Etym: [Often + sith time.]
Defn: Frequently; often. [Obs.]For whom I sighed have so oftensith. Gascoigne.
OFTENTIDEOf"ten*tide", adv. Etym: [Often + tide time.]
Defn: Frequently; often. [Obs.] Robert of Brunne.
OFTENTIMESOf"ten*times`, adv. Etym: [Often + time. Cf. -wards.]
Defn: Frequently; often; many times. Wordsworth.
OFTEROft"er, adv.
Defn: Compar. of Oft. [Obs.] Chaucer.
OFTTIMESOft"times`, adv. Etym: [Oft + time. Cf. -wards.]
Defn: Frequently; often. Milton.
OGAMOg"am, n.
Defn: Same as Ogham.
OGDOADOg"do*ad, n. Etym: [Gr. , , from
Defn: A thing made up of eight parts. Milman.
OGDOASTICHOg`do*as`tich, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A poem of eight lines. [Obs.] Selden
OGEE O*gee", n. Etym: [F. ogive, augive, LL. augiva, of uncertain origin; cf.LL. ogis a support, prop. L. augere to increase, strengthen, Sp. auge highest point of power or fortune, apogee, Ar. auj, an astronomical term.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A molding, the section of which is the form of the letter S, with the convex part above; cyma reversa. See Illust. under Cyma.
2. Hence, any similar figure used for any purpose. Ogee arch (Arch.), a pointed arch, each of the sides of which has the curve of an ogee, that is, has a reversed curve near the apex.
OGEECHEE LIME O*gee"chee lime`. Etym: [So named from the Ogeechee River in Georgia.] (Bot.) (a) The acid, olive-shaped, drupaceous fruit of a species of tupelo (Nyssa capitata) which grows in swamps in Georgia and Florida. (b) The tree which bears this fruit.
OGGANITION Og`ga*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L.oggannire to snarl at; ob (see Ob-) + gannire to yelp.]
Defn: Snarling; grumbling. [R.] Bp. Montagu.
OGHAMOg"ham, n. Etym: [Ir.]
Defn: A particular kind of writing practiced by the ancient Irish, and found in inscriptions on stones, metals, etc. [Written also ogam.]
OGIVE O"give, n. Etym: [F. ogive, OF. augive a pointed arch, LL. augiva a double arch of two at right angles.] (Arch.)
Defn: The arch or rib which crosses a Gothic vault diagonally.
OGLE O"gle (og'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ogled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ogling.] Etym: [From a Dutch word corresponding to G. äugeln to ogle, fr. auge eye; cf. D. ooglonken to ogle, OD. oogen to cast sheep's eyes upon, ooge eye. See Eye.]
Defn: To view or look at with side glances, as in fondness, or with a design to attract notice. And ogling all their audience, ere they speak. Dryden.
OGLEO"gle, n.
Defn: An amorous side glance or look. Byron.
OGLERO"gler, n.
Defn: One who ogles. Addison.
OGLIOO"gli*o, n.
Defn: See Olio.
OGRE O"gre, n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. ogro, fr. L. Orcus the god of the infernal regions; also, the lower world, hell.]
Defn: An imaginary monster, or hideous giant of fairy tales, who lived on human beings; hence, any frightful giant; a cruel monster. His schoolroom must have resembled an ogre's den. Maccaulay.
OGREISHO"gre*ish, a.
Defn: Resembling an ogre; having the character or appearance of an ogre; suitable for an ogre. "An ogreish kind of jocularity." Dickens.
OGRESSO"gress, n. Etym: [F.ogresse. See Ogre.]
Defn: A female ogre. Tennyson.
OGRISM; OGREISMO"grism, O"gre*ism, n.
Defn: The character or manners of an ogre.
OGYGIANO*gyg"i*an, a. Etym: [L. Ogygius, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Ogyges, a mythical king of ancient Attica, or to a great deluge in Attica in his days; hence, primeval; of obscure antiquity.
OHOh, interj. Etym: [See O, interj.]
Defn: An exclamation expressing various emotions, according to the tone and manner, especially surprise, pain, sorrow, anxiety, or a wish. See the Note under O.
OHMOhm, n. Etym: [So called from the German electrician, G.S. Ohm.](Elec.)
Defn: The standard unit in the measure of electrical resistance, being the resistance of a circuit in which a potential difference of one volt produces a current of one ampére. As defined by the International Electrical Congress in 1893, and by United States Statute, it is a resistance substantially equal to 109 units of resistance of the C.G.S. system of electro-magnetic units, and is represented by the resistance offered to an unvarying electric current by a column of mercury at the temperature of melting ice 14.4521 grams in mass, of a constant cross-sectional area, and of the length of 106.3 centimeters. As thus defined it is called the international ohm. Ohm's law (Elec.), the statement of the fact that the strength or intensity of an electrical current is directly proportional to the electro-motive force, and inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit.
OHMMETEROhm"me`ter, n. [Ohm + meter.] (Elec.)
Defn: An instrument for indicating directly resistance in ohms.
OHOO*ho", interj.
Defn: An exclamation of surprise, etc.
-OID -oid. Etym: [Gr. wit: cf.F. -oïde, L. -oïdes.]
Defn: A suffix or combining form meaning like, resembling, in the form of; as in anthropoid, asteroid, spheroid.
OIDIUMO*ïd"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., dim. fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of minute fungi which form a floccose mass of filaments on decaying fruit, etc. Many forms once referred to this genus are now believed to be temporary conditions of fungi of other genera, among them the vine mildew (Oïdium Tuckeri), which has caused much injury to grapes.
OILOil, n. Etym: [OE. oile, OF. oile, F. huile, fr. L. oleum; akin toGr. Olive.]
Defn: Any one of a great variety of unctuous combustible substances, not miscible with water; as, olive oil, whale oil, rock oil, etc. They are of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin and of varied composition, and they are variously used for food, for solvents, for anointing, lubrication, illumination, etc. By extension, any substance of an oily consistency; as, oil of vitriol.
Note: The mineral oils are varieties of petroleum. See Petroleum. The vegetable oils are of two classes, essential oils (see under Essential), and natural oils which in general resemble the animal oils and fats. Most of the natural oils and the animal oils and fats consist of ethereal salts of glycerin, with a large number of organic acids, principally stearic, oleic, and palmitic, forming respectively stearin, olein, and palmitin. Stearin and palmitin prevail in the solid oils and fats, and olein in the liquid oils. Mutton tallow, beef tallow, and lard are rich in stearin, human fat and palm oil in palmitin, and sperm and cod-liver oils in olein. In making soaps, the acids leave the glycerin and unite with the soda or potash. Animal oil, Bone oil, Dipple's oil, etc. (Old Chem.), a complex oil obtained by the distillation of animal substances, as bones. See Bone oil, under Bone. — Drying oils, Essential oils. (Chem.) See under Drying, and Essential. — Ethereal oil of wine, Heavy oil of wine. (Chem.) See under Ethereal. — Fixed oil. (Chem.) See under Fixed. — Oil bag (Zoöl.), a bag, cyst, or gland in animals, containing oil. — Oil beetle (Zoöl.), any beetle of the genus Meloe and allied genera. When disturbed they emit from the joints of the legs a yellowish oily liquor. Some species possess vesicating properties, and are used instead of cantharides. — Oil box, or Oil cellar (Mach.), a fixed box or reservoir, for lubricating a bearing; esp., the box for oil beneath the journal of a railway-car axle. — Oil cake. See under Cake. — Oil cock, a stopcock connected with an oil cup. See Oil cup. — Oil color. (a) A paint made by grinding a coloring substance in oil. (b) Such paints, taken in a general sense. — Oil cup, a cup, or small receptacle, connected with a bearing as a lubricator, and usually provided with a wick, wire, or adjustable valve for regulating the delivery of oil. — Oil engine, a gas engine worked with the explosive vapor of petroleum. — Oil gas, inflammable gas procured from oil, and used for lighting streets, houses, etc. — Oil gland. (a) (Zoöl.) A gland which secretes oil; especially in birds, the large gland at the base of the tail. (b) (Bot.) A gland, in some plants, producing oil. — Oil green, a pale yellowish green, like oil. — Oil of brick, empyreumatic oil obtained by subjecting a brick soaked in oil to distillation at a high temperature, — used by lapidaries as a vehicle for the emery by which stones and gems are sawn or cut. Brande & C. — Oil of talc, a nostrum made of calcined talc, and famous in the 17th century as a cosmetic. [Obs.] B. Jonson. — Oil of vitriol (Chem.), strong sulphuric acid; — so called from its oily consistency and from its forming the vitriols or sulphates. — Oil of wine, . — Oil painting. (a) The art of painting in oil colors. (b) Any kind of painting of which the pigments are originally ground in oil. — Oil palm (Bot.), a palm tree whose fruit furnishes oil, esp. Elæis Guineensis. See Elæis. — Oil sardine (Zoöl.), an East Indian herring (Clupea scombrina), valued for its oil. — Oil shark (Zoöl.) (a) The liver shark. (b) The tope. — Oil still, a still for hydrocarbons, esp. for petroleum. — Oil test, a test for determining the temperature at which petroleum oils give off vapor which is liable to explode. — Oil tree. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Ricinus (R. communis), from the seeds of which castor oil is obtained. (b) An Indian tree, the mahwa. See Mahwa. (c) The oil palm. — To burn the midnight oil, to study or work late at night. — Volatle oils. See Essential oils, under Essential.
OILOil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Oiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Oiling.]
Defn: To smear or rub over with oil; to lubricate with oil; to anoint with oil.
OILBIRDOil"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Guacharo.
OILCLOTHOil"cloth", n.
Defn: Cloth treated with oil or paint, and used for marking garments, covering flooors, etc.
OILEDOiled, a.
Defn: Covered or treated with oil; dressed with, or soaked in, oil.Oiled silk, silk rendered waterproof by saturation with boiled oil.