of course adv 1: as might be expected; "naturally, the lawyer sent us a huge bill" [syn: naturally, of course, course] [ant: unnaturally]

of course adv. phr. 1. As you would expect; naturally. Bob hit Herman, and Herman hit him back, of course. The rain came pouring down, and of course the track meet was canceled. 2. Without a doubt; certainly; surely. Of course you know that girl; she's in your class.

of course phrasal 1. following the ordinary way or procedure <will be done as a matter of course> 2. as might be expected <of course we will go>

of course Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. You say of course to suggest that something is normal, obvious, or well-known, and should therefore not surprise the person you are talking to. (SPOKEN) Of course there were lots of other interesting things at the exhibition... 'I have read about you in the newspapers of course,' Charlie said... The only honest answer is, of course, yes. = naturally ADV: ADV with cl 2. You use of course as a polite way of giving permission. (SPOKEN) 'Can I just say something about the cup game on Saturday?'—'Yes of course you can.'... 'Could I see these documents?'—'Of course.' CONVENTION [formulae] 3. You use of course in order to emphasize a statement that you are making, especially when you are agreeing or disagreeing with someone. (SPOKEN) 'I expect you're right.'—'Of course I'm right.'... 'You will strictly observe your diet: no wine or spirits, very little meat.'—'Of course.' ADV: ADV with cl, ADV as reply [emphasis] 4. Of course not is an emphatic way of saying no. (SPOKEN) 'You're not really seriously considering this thing, are you?'—'No, of course not.' CONVENTION [emphasis]

Course \Course\ (k?rs), n. [F. cours, course, L. cursus, fr. currere to run. See Current.] 1. The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage. And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais. --Acts xxi. 7. 2. The ground or path traversed; track; way. The same horse also run the round course at Newmarket. --Pennant. 3. Motion, considered as to its general or resultant direction or to its goal; line progress or advance. A light by which the Argive squadron steers Their silent course to Ilium's well known shore. --Dennham. Westward the course of empire takes its way. --Berkeley. 4. Progress from point to point without change of direction; any part of a progress from one place to another, which is in a straight line, or on one direction; as, a ship in a long voyage makes many courses; a course measured by a surveyor between two stations; also, a progress without interruption or rest; a heat; as, one course of a race. 5. Motion considered with reference to manner; or derly progress; procedure in a certain line of thought or action; as, the course of an argument. The course of true love never did run smooth. --Shak. 6. Customary or established sequence of events; recurrence of events according to natural laws. By course of nature and of law. --Davies. Day and night, Seedtime and harvest, heat and hoary frost, Shall hold their course. --Milton. 7. Method of procedure; manner or way of conducting; conduct; behavior. My lord of York commends the plot and the general course of the action. --Shak. By perseverance in the course prescribed. --Wodsworth. You hold your course without remorse. --Tennyson. 8. A series of motions or acts arranged in order; a succession of acts or practices connectedly followed; as, a course of medicine; a course of lectures on chemistry. 9. The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn. He appointed . . . the courses of the priests --2 Chron. viii. 14. 10. That part of a meal served at one time, with its accompaniments. He [Goldsmith] wore fine clothes, gave dinners of several courses, paid court to venal beauties. --Macaulay. 11. (Arch.) A continuous level range of brick or stones of the same height throughout the face or faces of a building. --Gwilt. 12. (Naut.) The lowest sail on any mast of a square-rigged vessel; as, the fore course, main course, etc. 13. pl. (Physiol.) The menses. In course, in regular succession. Of course, by consequence; as a matter of course; in regular or natural order. In the course of, at same time or times during. ``In the course of human events.'' --T. Jefferson. Syn: Way; road; route; passage; race; series; succession; manner; method; mode; career; progress.

82 Moby Thesaurus words for "of course": OK, Roger, absolutely, accordingly, all right, alright, alrighty, amen, and no mistake, and so, as a consequence, as a result, as you say, assuredly, at all events, at any rate, aye, by all means, certainly, clearly, consequently, da, decidedly, decisively, definitely, distinctly, exactly, finally, fine, for a certainty, for a fact, for certain, for sure, forsooth, good, good enough, hear, in truth, inconsequence, indeed, indeedy, inevitably, it follows that, ja, just so, mais oui, most assuredly, most certainly, naturally, naturellement, necessarily, nothing else but, of necessity, okay, oui, positively, precisely, quite, rather, really, right, righto, sure, sure thing, surely, therefore, to a certainty, to be sure, truly, unequivocally, unmistakably, very well, well and good, why yes, yea, yeah, yep, yes, yes indeed, yes indeedy, yes sir, yes sirree

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