originate (v.) — ostentation (n.)

originate (v.)

1650s, "to trace the origin of;" also "to bring into existence, give rise or origin to," probably a back-formation from origination. Intransitive sense of "to arise, come into existence" is from 1775. Related: Originated; originating.ETD originate (v.).2

originality (n.)

1742, "quality or state of being primary or first-hand," from original (adj.) + -ity. Probably after French originalité (1690s). Meaning "quality of being novel, freshness of style or character" is from 1787.ETD originality (n.).2

originator (n.)

"an initiator, a creator, one who begins or originates (something)," 1818, agent noun in Latin form from originate.ETD originator (n.).2

origin (n.)

c. 1400, "ancestry, race," from Latin originem (nominative origo) "a rise, commencement, beginning, source; descent, lineage, birth," from stem of oriri "arise, rise, get up; appear above the horizon, become visible; be born, be descended, receive life;" figuratively "come forth, take origin, proceed, start" (of rivers, rumors, etc.), from PIE *heri- "to rise" (source also of Hittite arai- "to arise, lift, raise," Sanskrit iyarti "to set in motion, move," Armenian y-arnem "to rise"). Meaning "beginning of existence" is from 1560s; sense of "that from which something derives its being or nature" is from c. 1600.ETD origin (n.).2

origination (n.)

1640s, "act of arising or coming into existence," from French origination (15c.), from Latin originationem (nominative originatio) "source," from originem "beginning, source, birth," from oriri "to rise" (see origin). Meaning "starting point" is from 1660s; meaning "act of bringing into existence" is from 1837.ETD origination (n.).2

original (n.)

late 14c., "that from which anything is derived;" also "original text," from Old French original and directly from Medieval Latin originale (see original (adj.)). Of photographs, films, sound recordings, etc., from 1918.ETD original (n.).2

oriole (n.)

1776, "the golden oriole," a bird of Europe, so called from its rich yellow color, from French oriol, Old Provençal auriol, from Medieval Latin oryolus, oriolus (13c.), from Latin aureolus "golden," from PIE *aus- (2) "gold" (see aureate).ETD oriole (n.).2

Originally in reference to Oriolus galbula, a bird of black and yellow plumage that summers in Europe (but is uncommon in England). The name was applied by 1791 to the unrelated but similarly colored North American species Icterus baltimore.ETD oriole (n.).3

Orion

conspicuous constellation containing seven bright starts in a distinctive pattern, late 14c., orioun, ultimately from Greek Oriōn, Oariōn, name of a giant hunter in Greek mythology, loved by Aurora, slain by Artemis, a name of unknown origin, though some speculate on Akkadian Uru-anna "the Light of Heaven."ETD Orion.2

Another Greek name for the constellation was Kandaon, a title of Ares, god of war, and the star pattern is represented in many cultures as a giant (such as Old Irish Caomai "the Armed King," Old Norse Orwandil, Old Saxon Ebuðrung). A Mesopotamian text from 1700 B.C.E. calls it The True Shepherd of Anu. The Orionid meteors, which appear to radiate from the constellation, are so called by 1876.ETD Orion.3

orison (n.)

c. 1200, orisoun, "a prayer," especially "a set prayer that forms part of a religious service," from Anglo-French oreison, Old French oreisun (12c., Modern French oraison) "oration," from Latin orationem (nominative oratio) "speech, oration," in Church Latin "prayer, appeal to God," noun of action from past-participle stem of ōrare "to speak, pray, plead" (see orator). Etymologically, a doublet of oration.ETD orison (n.).2

Orkney

group of islands off the north coast of Scotland, from Old Norse Orkney-jar "Seal Islands," from orkn "seal," which is probably imitative of its bark. With Old Norse ey "island" (compare Jersey). Related: Orcadian; Orkneyman.ETD Orkney.2

Orlando

masc. proper name, Italian form of Roland (q.v.). The city in Florida, U.S., so called from 1857, supposedly in honor of a U.S. soldier, Orlando Reeves, who was killed there in 1835 by Seminoles. It had been settled c. 1844 as Jernigan.ETD Orlando.2

Orleans

city in France, French Orléans, from Roman Aurelianum, named 3c. C.E. in honor of emperor Aurelian, who reigned from 270 to 275 and reunited Gaul with Rome. The place had formerly been called Genabum, from roots *gen- "bend" (in a river) + *apa "water." In French politics, the name of a family descended from a younger brother of Louis XIV; one of its princes reigned 1830-1848 as Louis Philippe. Hence Orleanist "an adherent of the princes of Orleans."ETD Orleans.2

Orlon

proprietary name (Du Pont) of synthetic textile fiber, 1948, an invented word (compare nylon).ETD Orlon.2

ormolu (n.)

1765, "an alloy of copper, zinc, and tin resembling gold," from French or moulu, literally "ground gold," from or "gold" (from Latin aurum, from PIE *aus- (2) "gold;" see aureate) + moulu "ground up," past participle of moudre "to grind," from Latin molere "to grind" (from PIE root *mele- "to crush, grind"). The sense of the word before it reached English began as "gold leaf prepared for gilding bronze, brass, etc.," then shifted to "gilded bronze," then to various prepared metallic substances resembling it.ETD ormolu (n.).2

ornament (n.)

c. 1200, ournement, "an accessory; something that serves primarily for use but also may serve as adornment; ornamental apparel, jewels," from Old French ornement "ornament, decoration," and directly from Latin ornamentum "apparatus, equipment, trappings; embellishment, decoration, trinket," from ornare "to equip, adorn," from stem of ordo "row, rank, series, arrangement" (see order (n.)).ETD ornament (n.).2

The sense shift in English to "something employed simply to adorn or decorate, something added as an embellishment, whatever lends grace or beauty to that to which it is added or belongs" is by late 14c. (this also was a secondary sense in classical Latin). Meaning "outward appearance, mere display" is from 1590s. The figurative use is from 1550s; the meaning "one who adds luster to one's sphere or surroundings" is from 1570s.ETD ornament (n.).3

ornamentation (n.)

1839, "the whole mass of ornament;" 1851 "that which serves as ornament;" 1860, "act or process of ornamenting," noun of action from ornament (v.).ETD ornamentation (n.).2

ornamental (adj.)

"serving as an ornament; adding beauty, grace, or attractiveness," 1640s, formed in English from ornament (n.) + -al (1) and partly from Latin ornamentalis, from ornamentum.ETD ornamental (adj.).2

ornament (v.)

"to adorn, deck, embellish," 1720, from ornament (n.). Middle English used ournen (late 14c.) in this sense, from Old French orner, from Latin ornare. Related: Ornamented; ornamenting.ETD ornament (v.).2

ornate (adj.)

"ornamented, artistically finished, decorated; decorous," c. 1400, from Latin ornatus "fitted out, furnished, supplied; adorned, decorated, embellished," past participle of ornare "adorn, fit out," from stem of ordo "row, rank, series, arrangement" (see order (n.)). Earliest reference is to literary style. Related: Ornately; ornateness.ETD ornate (adj.).2

ornery (adj.)

1816, ornary, American English dialectal contraction of ordinary (adj.). "Commonplace," hence "of poor quality, coarse, ugly." By c. 1860 the sense had evolved to "mean, cantankerous." Related: Orneriness.ETD ornery (adj.).2

ornitho-

before vowels ornith-, word-forming element meaning "bird, birds," from combining form of Greek ornis (genitive ornithos; plural ornithēs) "a bird," in Attic generally "domestic fowl, cock or hen," which often was added to the specific name of the type of bird, from PIE *or- "large bird" (see erne).ETD ornitho-.2

For "bird" Greek also had ptēnon (plural peteina), related to pteron "wing," from the root meaning "to fly."ETD ornitho-.3

ornithological (adj.)

"of or pertaining to ornithology, relating to the study of birds," 1763, from ornithology + -ical. Related: Ornithologically.ETD ornithological (adj.).2

ornithology (n.)

"scientific study or knowledge of birds," 1670s, from Modern Latin ornithologia (1590s); see ornitho- + -logy.ETD ornithology (n.).2

ornithologist (n.)

"one who makes a special study of birds," 1670s, from ornithology + -ist.ETD ornithologist (n.).2

ornithomancy (n.)

"divination by means of birds," 1650s; see ornitho- + -mancy. Middle English had it as ornomanci (late 15c.). Related: Ornithomantic.ETD ornithomancy (n.).2

ornithopod (n.)

1933, short for ornithopod dinosaur (1888), from Modern Latin Ornithopoda (1881), the suborder of dinosaurs whose hind legs are like those of birds, from ornitho- "bird" + Greek podos, genitive of pous "foot" (from PIE root *ped- "foot").ETD ornithopod (n.).2

ornithopter (n.)

1908, from French ornithoptère (1908), a machine designed to fly by mechanical flapping of wings, from ornitho- + Greek pteron "wing" (from PIE root *pet- "to rush, to fly"). A mode of flight considered promising at least since Leonardo's day.ETD ornithopter (n.).2

oro-

word-forming element meaning "mountain," from Greek oros "mountain" (see oread).ETD oro-.2

orogeny (n.)

1883, "mountain-forming, the formation of mountains," from French orogénie; see oro- + -geny. In reference to particular mountain-building geological periods, by 1914. Related: Orogenic (1886); orogenesis (1886).ETD orogeny (n.).2

orotund (adj.)

in elocution, "characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness," 1792, from Latin ore rotundo "in well-rounded phrases," literally "with round mouth" (see ore rotundo).ETD orotund (adj.).2

orphan (n.)

"a child bereaved of one or both parents, generally the latter," c. 1300, from Late Latin orphanus "parentless child" (source of Old French orfeno, orphenin, Italian orfano), from Greek orphanos "orphaned, without parents, fatherless," literally "deprived," from orphos "bereft."ETD orphan (n.).2

This is from PIE *orbho- "bereft of father," also "deprived of free status," from root *orbh- "to change allegiance, to pass from one status to another" (source also of Hittite harb- "change allegiance," Latin orbus "bereft," Sanskrit arbhah "weak, child," Armenian orb "orphan," Old Irish orbe "heir," Old Church Slavonic rabu "slave," rabota "servitude" (see robot), Gothic arbja, German erbe, Old English ierfa "heir," Old High German arabeit, German Arbeit "work," Old Frisian arbed, Old English earfoð "hardship, suffering, trouble").ETD orphan (n.).3

As an adjective from late 15c., "bereft of parents," said of a child or young dependent person. Figurative use is from late 15c. The Little Orphan Annie U.S. newspaper comic strip created by Harold Gray (1894-1968) debuted in 1924 in the New York "Daily News." Earlier it was the name (as Little Orphant Annie) of the character in James Whitcomb Riley's 1885 poem, originally titled "Elf Child":ETD orphan (n.).4

Orphant was an old, corrupt form of orphan, attested from 17c.ETD orphan (n.).5

orphan (v.)

"to reduce to the state of being an orphan," 1814, from orphan (n.). Related: Orphaned; orphaning.ETD orphan (v.).2

orphanage (n.)

1570s, "condition of being an orphan," from orphan (n.) + -age. Meaning "home for orphans" is by 1850. Other words for "condition of being an orphan" have included orphanhood (1670s); orphancy (1580s); orphanism (1590s); orphanship (1670s); and Middle English had orphanite "desolation, wretchedness" (mid-15c.). Also in the sense of "home for orphans" were orphan house (1711); orphan-asylum (1796); orphanry (1872).ETD orphanage (n.).2

Orphic (adj.)

"of or related to Orpheus or the doctrines attributed to him," 1670s, from Latinized form of Greek orphikos "pertaining to Orpheus," the legendary master musician of ancient Thrace, son of Eagrus and Calliope, husband of Eurydice, who had the power of charming all living things and inanimate objects with his lyre. His name is of unknown origin. In later times he was accounted a philosopher and adept in secret knowledge, and various mystic doctrines were associated with his name, whence Orphic mysteries, etc. (late 17c.). The earlier adjective was Orphean (1590s). Related: Orphism.ETD Orphic (adj.).2

orpiment (n.)

"arsenic trisulphide," a bright yellow mineral substance used in dyeing as a pigment and also medicinally and for destroying lice, late 13c., orpyment, from Old French orpiment "arsenic trisulphide, yellow color," from Latin auripigmentum, from aurum "gold" (see aureate) + pigmentum "coloring matter, pigment, paint," from stem of pingere "to color, paint," from a nasalized form of PIE root *peig- "to cut, mark by incision."ETD orpiment (n.).2

orrery (n.)

a model solar-system machinery constructed to represent the motions of the planets in their orbits, 1713, invented c. 1704 by English clockmaker George Graham (1673-1751) and constructed by instrument maker John Rowley. Graham gave a copy to his patron, Charles Boyle (1674-1731), 4th Earl of Orrery (Cork) and named it in his honor.ETD orrery (n.).2

Orson

masc. proper name, from French ourson, diminutive of ours "bear," from Latin ursus (see arctic).ETD Orson.2

ort (n.)

"remains of food left from a meal, a table scrap," mid-15c. (from c. 1300 in Anglo-Latin), originally of animal food, but not common until late 16c.; probably cognate with early Dutch ooraete, Low German ort, from or-, privative prefix, + etan "to eat" (from PIE root *ed- "to eat"). Perhaps from an unrecorded Old English word.ETD ort (n.).2

ortho-

before vowels orth-, word-forming element meaning "straight, upright, rectangular, regular; true, correct, proper," now mostly in scientific and technical compounds, from Greek orthos "straight, true, correct, regular," from PIE *eredh- "high" (source also of Sanskrit urdhvah "high, lofty, steep," Latin arduus "high, steep," Old Irish ard "high").ETD ortho-.2

orthodontic (adj.)

"serving to correct the positions of the teeth," 1905, from orthodontia + -ic.ETD orthodontic (adj.).2

orthodontics (n.)

"orthodontia, the branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of irregularities of the teeth and jaws," 1909, from orthodontic (adj.); also see -ics.ETD orthodontics (n.).2

orthodontia (n.)

"the branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of irregularities of the teeth and jaws," 1849, from ortho- "straight, regular" + Greek odon (genitive odontos) "tooth" (from PIE root *dent- "tooth") + abstract noun ending -ia.ETD orthodontia (n.).2

orthodontist (n.)

"one who practices orthodontia," 1903; see orthodontia + -ist.ETD orthodontist (n.).2

orthodox (adj.)

mid-15c., in reference to theological opinions or faith, "what is regarded as true or correct," from Late Latin orthodoxus, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion," from orthos "right, true, straight" (see ortho-) + doxa "opinion, praise" (from dokein "to seem;" from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept").ETD orthodox (adj.).2

Of other subjects than religion or theology from 1640s. Meaning "of or pertaining to the Greek Church," by 1772. In reference to a branch of Judaism, recorded from 1853; as a noun meaning "an Orthodox Jew," by 1889.ETD orthodox (adj.).3

orthodoxy (n.)

"correctness of opinion," especially in theology; "conformity to the Church creeds," 1620s, from French orthodoxie and directly from Late Latin orthodoxia, from late Greek orthodoxia "right opinion," abstract noun from orthodoxos "having the right opinion" (see orthodox). Orthodoxies "correct belief or opinion" is by 1871.ETD orthodoxy (n.).2

orthognathous (adj.)

in ethnology, "having the jaws not projecting beyond the vertical line of the forehead; straight-jawed," a characteristic of European skulls, 1853, from ortho- "straight, upright" + Greek gnathos "jaw, cheek," properly "the lower jaw," from PIE root *genu- (2) "jawbone, chin." Related: Orthognathic (by 1852); orthognathism.ETD orthognathous (adj.).2

orthogonal (adj.)

"pertaining to or depending upon the use of right angles," 1570s, from French orthogonal, from orthogone, from Late Latin orthogonius, from Greek orthogonios "right-angled," from ortho- "straight" (see ortho-) + gōnia "angle, corner" (from PIE root *genu- (1) "knee; angle"). Related: Orthogonally; orthogonality.ETD orthogonal (adj.).2

orthographic (adj.)

1660s, in reference to a type of perspective in drawings, etc., from ortho- "true, correct" + -graphic "of or pertaining to drawing" (see graphic (adj.)). Meaning "belonging to the writing of words with proper letters, relating to the spelling of words" is by 1709, from orthography + -ic. Related: Orthographically (used from 1610s in reference to spelling).ETD orthographic (adj.).2

orthography (n.)

mid-15c., ortographie, ortografie, "branch of knowledge concerned with correct or proper spelling," from Old French ortografie (13c.), from Latin orthographia, from Greek orthographia "correct writing," from orthos "correct" (see ortho-) + root of graphein "to write" (see -graphy.ETD orthography (n.).2

The classical spelling was restored in English and French (orthographie) in early 16c. The meaning "branch of language study which treats of the nature and properties of letters" is from 1580s. An early 15c. glossary has ryght wrytynge as translation of ortographia. Related: Orthographer.ETD orthography (n.).3

orthopaedics (n.)

chiefly British English spelling of orthopedics; for spelling, see pedo-. Related: Orthopaedic; orthopaedia.ETD orthopaedics (n.).2

orthopedic (adj.)

"relating to or concerned with the cure of bodily deformities in children or in persons generally," 1840, from French orthopédique, from orthopédie, coined by French physician Nicholas Andry (1658-1742), from Greek orthos "straight, correct" (see ortho-) + paideia "rearing of children," from pais (genitive paidos) "child" (see pedo-).ETD orthopedic (adj.).2

orthopedics (n.)

"act of curing or remedying deformities in the bodies of children or in persons generally," 1853, from orthopedic. Also see -ics. The form orthopaedy is attested from 1840, from French.ETD orthopedics (n.).2

orthopedist (n.)

"one skilled in curing natural deformities in the human body," 1853, from orthopedy (1840), from French orthopédie (18c.); see orthopedic + -ist.ETD orthopedist (n.).2

orthopraxy (n.)

"correct practice, action, or procedure," 1840, from ortho- + Greek praxis "a doing, action, performance" (see praxis).ETD orthopraxy (n.).2

orthopterous (adj.)

by 1815, "belonging to the order Orthoptera;" literally "straight-winged," that is, "having wings that lie straight when folded," from Modern Latin orthopterus, from Greek orthopteros "having straight (upright) wings or feathers," from orthos "straight" (see ortho-) + pteron "wing" (from PIE root *pet- "to rush, to fly"). Orthoptera is the name proposed in 1789 for the order of straight-winged insects, including cockroaches, mantises, grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and true locusts.ETD orthopterous (adj.).2

Ortygia

ancient name of Delos, the island held to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, literally "Quail Island," from Greek ortyx "quail," which perhaps shares a common root with Sanskrit vartika "quail." Related: Ortygian.ETD Ortygia.2

Orwellian (adj.)

"characteristic or suggestive of the writings of George Orwell," 1950 (first attested in Mary McCarthy), from English author George Orwell (pseudonym of Eric Blair, 1903-1950), especially in reference to his novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1949). It has come to be used in reference to the totalitarian systems he satirized and inveighed against.ETD Orwellian (adj.).2

The surname is attested from late Old English, from place names, either "spring by the point" (of land), or "stream of the (river) Orwe," a variant form of arrow.ETD Orwellian (adj.).3

oryx (n.)

late 14c., orix, also in Middle English origen, from Latin oryx, from Greek oryx (genitive orygos), an old name of some sort of Libyan and Egyptian antelope with pointed horns, perhaps originally the gazelle; "the digging animal," literally "pick-axe," but according to Beekes this is probably a folk-etymologizing of a borrowed word Used in Greek and Latin bibles to render Hebrew tho, which early English Bibles misidentified as everything from a small hibernating animal or dormouse to a kind of bird like a guinea hen to a wild bull. Now applied to a specific genus of large antelopes of North Africa and Arabia.ETD oryx (n.).2

os-

frequent form of ob- before -c- and -t- in words from Latin.ETD os-.2

-ose (1)

word-forming element used to make adjectives from nouns, with the meaning "full of, abounding in, having qualities of," from Latin -osus (see -ous).ETD -ose (1).2

-ose (2)

standard ending in chemical names of sugars, originally simply a noun-forming suffix, taken up by French chemists mid-19c.; it has no etymological connection with sugar. It appears around the same time in two chemical names, cellulose, which would owe it to the French suffix, and glucose, where it would be a natural result from the Greek original. Flood favors origin from glucose.ETD -ose (2).2

Osage

name of a group of Siouxan tribes originally from Missouri, 1690s, via French, from their self-designation Wazhazhe. The ornamental tree osage orange (Toxylon pomiferum), is attested by that name by 1817; it was originally found in and around their country.ETD Osage.2

Osborn

surname, also Osborne, Osbourn, Osbourne, etc., a Scandinavian name (Old Norse Asbiorn, Old Danish Asbiorn) meaning literally "god-bear," from os "a god" (see Oscar) + the Germanic word for "bear" (see bear (n.)). The name is found in England before the Conquest, perhaps directly from Scandinavia; it also was common in Normandy and was brought over from thence.ETD Osborn.2

Oscan (adj.)

"of or pertaining to the ancient people of southern Italy," 1590s, from Latin Osci, Opsci (plural) "Oscans," literally "worshippers of Ops," a harvest goddess, the name related to Latin ops (genitive opis) "abundance, plenty, wealth, riches," from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance." As a noun, in reference to a member of the people occupying much of southern Italy in ancient times, 1753; in reference to their language, by 1813.ETD Oscan (adj.).2

Oscar

masc. proper name, Old English Osgar "god's spear," from gar "spear" (see gar) + os "god" (only in personal names), for which see Aesir.ETD Oscar.2

The statuette awarded for excellence in film acting, directing, etc., given annually since 1928 was first so called in 1933. The common explanation of the name is that it sprang from a 1931 remark by Margaret Herrick, secretary at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, on seeing the statuette: "He reminds me of my Uncle Oscar." Thus the award would be named for Oscar Pierce, U.S. wheat farmer and fruit grower. The popularity of the name seems to trace to columnist Sidney Skolsky, and there are other stories of its origin.ETD Oscar.3

oscillation (n.)

"kind of vibration in which a body swings backward and forward," 1650s, from French oscillation and directly from Latin oscillationem (nominative oscillatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of oscillare "to swing," from oscillum "a swing," which usually is identified with the oscillum that meant "little face" (literally "little mouth"), a mask of open-mouthed Bacchus hung up in vineyards as a charm (the sense evolution would be via the notion of "swinging in the breeze"); from PIE *os- "mouth" (see oral). Figurative use, in reference to a swinging back and forth (in opinion, attitude, etc.) is by 1798.ETD oscillation (n.).2

oscillate (v.)

1726, intransitive, "to vibrate, move backward and forward," as a pendulum does, a back-formation from oscillation, or else from Latin oscillatus, past participle of oscillare "to swing." Transitive sense of "cause to swing backward and forward" is by 1766. From 1917 in electronics, "cause oscillation in an electric current." Related: Oscillated; oscillating.ETD oscillate (v.).2

oscillator (n.)

"one who or that which oscillates," agent noun in Latin form from oscillate; by 1835 of persons, figuratively; by 1889 in reference to electric currents. Related: Oscillatory.ETD oscillator (n.).2

oscilloscope (n.)

"instrument for visually recording an electrical wave," by 1907, a hybrid formed from Latin oscillare "to swing" (see oscillation) + -scope. In reference to the modern cathode-ray oscilloscope, by 1927.ETD oscilloscope (n.).2

oscine (adj.)

"of or pertaining to the singing birds," 1872, from Modern Latin Oscines, the scientific name of the suborder, from Latin oscen (gentitive oscinis) "songbird, bird giving omens by its cry, from assimilated form of ob- "in front of, before" (see ob-) + canere "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing").ETD oscine (adj.).2

oscitation (n.)

"act of yawning," 1540s, from Late Latin oscitationem (nominative oscitatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of oscitare "to gape, yawn" (see oscitant).ETD oscitation (n.).2

oscitate (v.)

"to yawn, gape with sleepiness," 1620s, from Latin oscitatus, past-participle of oscitare, oscitari "to gape, yawn" (see oscitant).ETD oscitate (v.).2

oscitant (adj.)

"sleepy, drowsy, sluggish," literally "yawning, gaping," 1620s, from Latin oscitans "listless, sluggish, lazy," present participle of oscitare "to gape, yawn," from os citare "to move the mouth" (see oral and cite). Related: Oscitancy.ETD oscitant (adj.).2

Osco-

combining form of Oscan (q.v.).ETD Osco-.2

osculate (v.)

"to kiss (one another)," 1650s, from Latin osculatus, past participle of osculari "to kiss," from osculum "a kiss; pretty mouth, sweet mouth," literally "little mouth," diminutive of os "mouth" (see oral). Related: Osculated; osculating; osculant; osculatory.ETD osculate (v.).2

osculation (n.)

"a kissing; a kiss," 1650s, from Latin osculationem (nominative osculatio) "a kissing," noun of action from past-participle stem of osculari "to kiss" (see osculate).ETD osculation (n.).2

-osis

word-forming element expressing state or condition, in medical terminology denoting "a state of disease," from Latin -osis and directly from Greek -osis, formed from the aorist of verbs ending in -o. It corresponds to Latin -atio.ETD -osis.2

osier (n.)

species of willow with tough, flexible branches used in basket-work, c. 1300, "a willow switch," from 14c. of the tree itself, from Old French osier, ozier "willow twig" (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin osera, osiera "willow," ausaria "willow bed," a word of unknown origin, perhaps from Gaulish. Old English had the word as oser, from Medieval Latin.ETD osier (n.).2

Osiris

name of a principal god of Egypt, judge of the dead, from Latin Osiris, from Greek, from Egyptian Asar. At the beginning of the Christian era his worship extended over Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. Related: Osirian.ETD Osiris.2

-osity

word-forming element making nouns from adjectives in -ous, -ose (1); from French -osité, from Latin -ositatem (nominative -ositas), properly -ose + -ity.ETD -osity.2

Oslo

Norwegian capital city, a name probably based on Old Norse os "estuary, river mouth," in reference to the place's situation.ETD Oslo.2

Osmanli

1792, "an Ottoman Turk," especially a member of the ruling dynasty; as an adjective by 1829, "relating to the empire of Turkey," from Turkish Osmanli "of or pertaining to Osman," founder of the Ottoman dynasty (he reigned 1259-1326); his name is the Turkish pronunciation of Arabic Uthman. This is the native word where English generally uses Ottoman. In early use as a noun in English often mistakenly regarded as a plural.ETD Osmanli.2

osmatic (adj.)

"having a good sense of smell, having well-developed olfactory organs," 1878, from French osmatique, apparently coined by Paul Broca, from Greek osmē "smell, scent, odor" from PIE root *hed- "to smell" (see odor). Related: Anosmatic.ETD osmatic (adj.).2

osmium (n.)

metallic element of the platinum group, 1803, coined in Modern Latin by its discoverer, English chemist Smithson Tennant (1761-1815) from Greek osmē "smell, scent, odor" good or bad, from PIE root *hed- "to smell" (see odor). With metallic element ending -ium. So called for the pungent smell of its oxide, a highly poisonous acid. The densest stable element, it commonly is found in alloy with iridium. Related: Osmic; osmious.ETD osmium (n.).2

Osmond

masc. proper name, from Old English Osmund, literally "divine protection," from os "a god" (see Oscar) + -mund (see mount (n.1)).ETD Osmond.2

osmosis (n.)

"the tendency of fluids to pass through porous partitions and mix with each other; the diffusion of fluids through membranes," 1867, Latinized from osmose (1854), a shortened form of endosmose "inward passage of a fluid through a porous septum" (1829), from endo- "inward," which is from Greek (see endo-) + Greek ōsmos "a thrusting, a pushing," from stem of ōthein "to push, to thrust," from PIE *wedhe- "to push, strike" (source also of Sanskrit vadhati "pushes, strikes, destroys," Avestan vadaya- "to repulse"). Figurative sense is from 1900. Related: Osmotic (1854, from earlier endosmotic); osmotically.ETD osmosis (n.).2

osprey (n.)

"sea-eagle," a large species of fishing-hawk, mid-15c., osprai, from Anglo-French ospriet, from Medieval Latin avis prede "bird of prey," from Latin avis praedæ, a generic term. Modern osprey apparently represents a confusion of this term in Old French with Latin ossifraga (Pliny), the name of another large bird, for which see ossifrage (q.v.).ETD osprey (n.).2

osseous (adj.)

"bony, made of bones," early 15c., ossuous, ossous, from Medieval Latin ossous, from Latin osseus "bony, of bone," from os (genitive ossis) "bone," from PIE root *ost- "bone." The word later was reformed in English (1680s), perhaps by influence of French osseux.ETD osseous (adj.).2

Ossetian

1877 as an adjective, "of pr pertaining to the Ossetes, a people of the Caucasus Mountains, or to their Iranian (Indo-European) language. From 1814 as a noun.ETD Ossetian.2

Ossianic (adj.)

"pertaining to or resembling the works of the legendary 3c. Gaelic bard Ossian," 1786, from Ossian, an Anglicization of Oisin, a name meaning literally "little fawn." James Macpherson claimed to have collected and translated his works (1760-1763) under the name Ossian, and the success of his poetic prose sparked a Celtic revival and fascination with the glamour of the lost world of the bards. The works ("Fingal" and others) turned out to be largely Macpherson's forgery, and the style later was regarded as bombastic, but the resulting swerve in European literature was real. Related: Ossianesque.ETD Ossianic (adj.).2

ossicle (n.)

"a small bone; small, hard, bone-like nodule," 1570s, from Latin ossiculum, diminutive of os "bone" (from PIE root *ost- "bone").ETD ossicle (n.).2

ossification (n.)

1690s, "the formation of bones," from Latin ossis "of bones," genitive of os "bone" (from PIE root *ost- "bone") + -fication "a making or causing." From 1705 as "a bony formation." It is recorded earlier than ossify.ETD ossification (n.).2

ossify (v.)

1713, intransitive, "to harden like bone, become bone;" 1721, intransitive, "convert to bone;" a back-formation from ossification, or else modeled on French ossifier (18c.) and formed from Latin os (genitive ossis) "bone" (from PIE root *ost- "bone") + -fy. Figurative sense "become rigid and fixed" (of thought, customs, etc.) is by 1858. Related: Ossified; ossifying.ETD ossify (v.).2

ossifrage (n.)

"sea-eagle, osprey," c. 1600, from Latin ossifraga "vulture," fem. of ossifragus, literally "bone-breaker," from ossifragus (adj.) "bone-breaking," from os (genitive ossis) "bone" (from PIE root *ost- "bone") + stem of frangere "to break" (from PIE root *bhreg- "to break").ETD ossifrage (n.).2

By this name Pliny meant "the Lammergeier" (that name is from German and means literally "lamb-vulture"), a very large Old World vulture that swallows and digests bones and was believed also to drop them from aloft to break them and get at the marrow. But in England and France, the word was transferred to the osprey, perhaps on the basis of a rough similarity of sound between the two words.ETD ossifrage (n.).3

ossuary (n.)

"urn or vase for the bones of the dead;" also "place where bones of the dead are deposited," 1650s, from Late Latin ossuarium "charnel house, receptacle for bones of the dead," from neuter of Latin ossuarius "of bones," from Latin os (plural ossua) "bone" (from PIE root *ost- "bone") on model of mortuarium.ETD ossuary (n.).2

*ost-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "bone."ETD *ost-.2

It forms all or part of: osseous; ossicle; ossuary; ossifrage; ossify; osteo-; osteology; osteopathy; ostracism; ostracize; oyster; periosteum.ETD *ost-.3

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit asthi, Hittite hashtai-, Greek osteon "bone," Greek ostrakon "oyster shell," Avestan ascu- "shinbone," Latin os (genitive ossis) "bone," osseus "bony, of bone," Welsh asgwrn, Armenian oskr, Albanian asht "bone."ETD *ost-.4

osteitis (n.)

"inflammation of bone," by 1825; see osteo- "bone" + -itis "inflammation." Related: Osteitic.ETD osteitis (n.).2

ostensive (adj.)

c. 1600, in logic, "setting forth a general principle by virtue of which a proposition must be true," from Late Latin ostensivus "showing," from Latin ostens-, past-participle stem of ostendere "to show" (see ostensible). Related: Ostensively.ETD ostensive (adj.).2

ostensibly (adv.)

"as shown or pretended, ostensibly," 1765, from ostensible + -ly (2).ETD ostensibly (adv.).2

ostensible (adj.)

1730, "capable of being shown, that can be shown or seen, presentable," from French ostensible, from Latin ostens-, past-participle stem of ostendere "to show, expose to view; to stretch out, spread before; exhibit, display," from assimilated form of ob "in front of" (see ob-) + tendere "to stretch" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch"). Meaning "apparent, professed, put forth or held out as real" is from 1771.ETD ostensible (adj.).2

ostentation (n.)

mid-15c., ostentacioun, "ambitious display, pretentious show, display intended to evoke admiration or attract attention," from Old French ostentacion (mid-14c.) and directly from Latin ostentationem (nominative ostentatio) "showing, exhibition, vain display," noun of action from past-participle stem of ostentare "to display," frequentative of ostendere "to show" (see ostensible).ETD ostentation (n.).2