Adjacent Words

O definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

O is the fifteenth letter, and the fourth vowel in the English Alphabet. The shape of this letter seems to have been taken from the circular configuration of the lips in uttering the sound. It corresponds in figure with the Coptic O, and nearly with the Syriac initial and final vau, and the Ethiopic ain. In words derived from the oriental languages, it often represents the vau of those languages, and sometimes the ain; the original sound of the latter being formed deep in the throat, and with a greater aperture of the mouth.
In English, O has a long sound, as in tone, hone, groan, cloke, roll, droll; a short sound, as in lot plod, rod, song, lodge. The sound of oo is shortened in words ending in a close articulation, as in book and foot.
The long sound of O, is usually denoted by e, at the end of a word or syllable, as in bone, lonely; or by a servile a, as in moan, foal. It is generally long before ll, as in roll; but it is short in doll, loll, and in words of more syllables than one, as in folly, volley.
As a numeral, O was sometimes used by the ancients for 11, and with a dash over it for 11,000.
Among the ancients, O was a mark of tripe time, from the notion that the ternary or number 3, is the most perfect of numbers, and properly expressed by a circle, the most perfect figure.
O is often used as an exclamation, expressing a wish.
O, were he present.
It sometimes expresses surprise. Shakespeare uses O for a circle or oval.
Within this wooden O.
O.S. stands for Old Style.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust [syn: oxygen, O, atomic number 8]
2: the 15th letter of the Roman alphabet [syn: O, o]
3: the blood group whose red cells carry neither the A nor B antigens; "people with type O blood are universal donors" [syn: O, type O, group O]

Merriam Webster's

also o preposition Etymology: Middle English o, o-, contraction of on & of Date: 13th century 1. chiefly dialect on 2. of <one o'clock>

Merriam Webster's

I. variant of oh II. noun Date: 1929 the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the absence of antigens designated by the letters A and B and by the presence of antibodies against these antigens III. abbreviation 1. offense 2. Ohio 3. [New Latin octarius] pint IV. symbol oxygen

Merriam Webster's

I. noun (plural o's or os) Usage: often capitalized, often attributive Date: before 12th century 1. a. the 15th letter of the English alphabet b. a graphic representation of this letter c. a speech counterpart of orthographic o 2. a graphic device for reproducing the letter o 3. one designated o especially as the 15th in order or class 4. something shaped like the letter O; especially zero II. abbreviation 1. ocean 2. ohm 3. old 4. order 5. over

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. (also o) (pl. Os or O's) 1 the fifteenth letter of the alphabet. 2 (0) nought, zero (in a sequence of numerals esp. when spoken). 3 a human blood type of the ABO system. 2. abbr. (also O.) Old. 3. symb. Chem. the element oxygen. 4. int. 1 var. of OH(1). 2 prefixed to a name in the vocative (O God). Etymology: ME, natural excl.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

prefix of Irish patronymic names (O'Connor). Etymology: Ir. ó, ua, descendant

Oxford Reference Dictionary

prep. of, on (esp. in phrases: o'clock; will-o'-the-wisp). Etymology: abbr.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

O O ([=o]), n.; pl. O's or Oes ([=o]z). 1. The letter O, or its sound. ``Mouthing out his hollow oes and aes.'' --Tennyson. 2. Something shaped like the letter O; a circle or oval. ``This wooden O [Globe Theater]''. --Shak. 3. A cipher; zero. [R.] Thou art an O without a figure. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

O' O' [Ir. o a descendant.] A prefix to Irish family names, which signifies grandson or descendant of, and is a character of dignity; as, O'Neil, O'Carrol.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

O O ([=o]). 1. O, the fifteenth letter of the English alphabet, derives its form, value, and name from the Greek O, through the Latin. The letter came into the Greek from the Ph[oe]nician, which possibly derived it ultimately from the Egyptian. Etymologically, the letter o is most closely related to a, e, and u; as in E. bone, AS. b[=a]n; E. stone, AS. st[=a]n; E. broke, AS. brecan to break; E. bore, AS. beran to bear; E. dove, AS. d[=u]fe; E. toft, tuft; tone, tune; number, F. nombre. The letter o has several vowel sounds, the principal of which are its long sound, as in bone, its short sound, as in nod, and the sounds heard in the words orb, son, do (feod), and wolf (book). In connection with the other vowels it forms several digraphs and diphthongs. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 107-129. 2. Among the ancients, O was a mark of triple time, from the notion that the ternary, or number 3, is the most perfect of numbers, and properly expressed by a circle, the most perfect figure. O was also anciently used to represent
11: with a dash over it ([=O]), 11,000.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

O' O' ([=o]; unaccented [-o]), prep. A shortened form of of or on. ``At the turning o' the tide.'' --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

O O ([=o]), a. [See One.] One. [Obs.] --Chaucer. ``Alle thre but o God.'' --Piers Plowman.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

O O, interj. An exclamation used in calling or directly addressing a person or personified object; also, as an emotional or impassioned exclamation expressing pain, grief, surprise, desire, fear, etc. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. --Ps. cxix. 89. O how love I thy law ! it is my meditation all the day. --Ps. cxix. 97. Note: O is frequently followed by an ellipsis and that, an in expressing a wish: ``O [I wish] that Ishmael might live before thee !'' --Gen. xvii. 18; or in expressions of surprise, indignation, or regret: ``O [it is sad] that such eyes should e'er meet other object !'' --Sheridan Knowles. Note: A distinction between the use of O and oh is insisted upon by some, namely, that O should be used only in direct address to a person or personified object, and should never be followed by the exclamation point, while Oh (or oh) should be used in exclamations where no direct appeal or address to an object is made, and may be followed by the exclamation point or not, according to the nature or construction of the sentence. Some insist that oh should be used only as an interjection expressing strong feeling. The form O, however, is, it seems, the one most commonly employed for both uses by modern writers and correctors for the press. ``O, I am slain !'' --Shak. ``O what a fair and ministering angel !'' ``O sweet angel !'' --Longfellow. O for a kindling touch from that pure flame ! --Wordsworth. But she is in her grave, -- and oh The difference to me ! --Wordsworth. Oh for a lodge in some vast wilderness ! --Cowper. We should distinguish between the sign of the vocative and the emotional interjection, writing O for the former, and oh for the latter. --Earle. O dear, & O dear me! [corrupted fr. F. O Dieu! or It. O Dio! O God! O Dio mio! O my God! --Wyman.], exclamations expressive of various emotions, but usually promoted by surprise, consternation, grief, pain, etc.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

O' is used in written English to represent the word 'of' pronounced in a particular way. I lost a lot o' blood... Can we have a cup o' coffee, please? PREP see also o'clock

Dictionary of Ro

(preposition)