Olay - Oligotokous

Prev Next

-ol (-ōl or -ŏl) suff. [From alcohol.] (Chem.) A suffix denoting that the substance in the name of which it appears belongs to the series of alcohols or hydroxyl derivatives, as ethanol, carbinol, phenol, glycerol, etc. Such compounds contain the hydroxy radical (-OH).
[ Webster +PJC]

Olay (ōlī), n. pl. [Tamil ōlai.] Palm leaves, prepared for being written upon with a style pointed with steel. [Written also ola.] Balfour (Cyc. of India).
[ Webster]

Old (ōld), n. Open country. [Obs.] See . Shak.
[ Webster]

Old, a. [Compar. Older (?); superl. Oldest.] [OE. old, ald, AS. ald, eald; akin to D. oud, OS. ald, OFries. ald, old, G. alt, Goth. alpeis, and also to Goth. alan to grow up, Icel. ala to bear, produce, bring up, L. alere to nourish. Cf. , , , , .]
[ Webster]

1. Not young; advanced far in years or life; having lived till toward the end of the ordinary term of living; as, an old man; an old age; an old horse; an old tree.
[ Webster]

Let not old age disgrace my high desire. Sir P. Sidney.
[ Webster]

The melancholy news that we grow old. Young.
[ Webster]

2. Not new or fresh; not recently made or produced; having existed for a long time; as, old wine; an old friendship. “An old acquaintance.” Camden.
[ Webster]

3. Formerly existing; ancient; not modern; preceding; original; as, an old law; an old custom; an old promise. “The old schools of Greece.” Milton. “The character of the old Ligurians.” Addison.
[ Webster]

4. Continued in life; advanced in the course of existence; having (a certain) length of existence; -- designating the age of a person or thing; as, an infant a few hours old; a cathedral centuries old.
[ Webster]

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? Cen. xlvii. 8.
[ Webster]

☞ In this use old regularly follows the noun that designates the age; as, she was eight years old.
[ Webster]

5. Long practiced; hence, skilled; experienced; cunning; as, an old offender; old in vice.
[ Webster]

Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old. Milton.
[ Webster]

6. Long cultivated; as, an old farm; old land, as opposed to new land, that is, to land lately cleared.
[ Webster]

7. Worn out; weakened or exhausted by use; past usefulness; as, old shoes; old clothes.
[ Webster]

8. More than enough; abundant. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key. Shak.
[ Webster]

9. Aged; antiquated; hence, wanting in the mental vigor or other qualities belonging to youth; -- used disparagingly as a term of reproach.
[ Webster]

10. Old-fashioned; wonted; customary; as of old; as, the good old times; hence, colloquially, gay; jolly.
[ Webster]

11. Used colloquially as a term of cordiality and familiarity. “Go thy ways, old lad.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Old age , advanced years; the latter period of life. -- Coloq. Old bachelor . See , 1. -- Coloq. Old Catholics . See under . -- Coloq. Old English . See under . n., 2. -- Coloq. Old Nick , Coloq. Old Scratch , the devil. -- Coloq. Old lady (Zoöl.), a large European noctuid moth (Mormo maura). -- Coloq. Old maid . (a) A woman, somewhat advanced in years, who has never been married; a spinster. (b) (Bot.) A West Indian name for the pink-flowered periwinkle (Vinca rosea). (c) A simple game of cards, played by matching them. The person with whom the odd card is left is the old maid. -- Coloq. Old man's beard . (Bot.) (a) The traveler's joy (Clematis Vitalba). So named from the abundant long feathery awns of its fruit. (b) The Tillandsia usneoides. See . -- Coloq. Old man's head (Bot.), a columnar cactus (Pilocereus senilis), native of Mexico, covered towards the top with long white hairs. -- Coloq. Old red sandstone (Geol.), a series of red sandstone rocks situated below the rocks of the Carboniferous age and comprising various strata of siliceous sandstones and conglomerates. See , and the Chart of . -- Coloq. Old school , a school or party belonging to a former time, or preserving the character, manner, or opinions of a former time; as, a gentleman of the old school; -- used also adjectively; as, Old-School Presbyterians. -- Coloq. Old sledge , an old and well-known game of cards, called also all fours, and high, low, Jack, and the game. -- Coloq. Old squaw (Zoöl.), a duck (Clangula hyemalis) inhabiting the northern parts of both hemispheres. The adult male is varied with black and white and is remarkable for the length of its tail. Called also longtailed duck, south southerly, callow, hareld, and old wife. -- Coloq. Old style . (Chron.) See the Note under . -- Coloq. Old Testament . See Old Testament under , and see . -- Coloq. Old wife . [In the senses b and cwritten also oldwife.] (a) A prating old woman; a gossip.

Refuse profane and old wives' fables. 1 Tim. iv. 7.

(b) (Zoöl.) The local name of various fishes, as the European black sea bream (Cantharus lineatus), the American alewife, etc. (c) (Zoöl.) A duck; the old squaw. -- Coloq. Old World , the Eastern Hemisphere.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Aged; ancient; pristine; primitive; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned; obsolete. See .
[ Webster]

Old Dominion. Virginia; -- a name of uncertain origin, perh. from the old designation of the colony as “the Colony and Dominion of Virginia.”
[Webster Suppl.]

Olden (?), a. Old; ancient; as, the olden time. “A minstrel of the olden stamp.” J. C. Shairp.
[ Webster]

Olden, v. i. To grow old; to age. [R.]
[ Webster]

She had oldened in that time. Thackeray.
[ Webster]

Old-fashioned (?), a. Formed according to old or obsolete fashion or pattern; belonging to or characteristic of times past; adhering to old customs, styles, or ideas; as, an old-fashioned dress, girl; old-fashioned wire-rimmed glasses. “Old-fashioned men of wit.” Addison.
[ Webster]

This old-fashioned, quaint abode. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

2. Unacceptable or suboptimum because of having been superseded by something more recent; outmoded{2}; out-of-date. [Narrower terms: old-fashioned, out of fashion(predicate), out of style(predicate), passe, passee.]
Syn. -- antique, old-hat(predicate), outmoded, out-of-date.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

3. Unfashionably out of date; out of style. [Narrower terms: unfashionable (vs. fashionable)]
Syn. -- demode, out of fashion(predicate), out of style(predicate), passe, passee.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

old fashioned, old-fashioned n. A cocktail consisting of whiskey, bitters, and sugar, garnished with with fruit slices and often a cherry.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

Old-gentlemanly (?), a. Pertaining to an old gentleman, or like one. Byron.
[ Webster]

old-hat pred. adj. same as , a., 2. [Narrower terms: unfashionable (vs. fashionable)]
Syn. -- antique, old-fashioned, outmoded, out-of-date, passe, passee.
[WordNet 1.5]

Oldish, a. Somewhat old.
[ Webster]

Old lang syne (?). See .
[ Webster]

Old Line State n. Maryland; a nickname, alluding to the fact that its northern boundary is Mason and Dixon's line.
[Webster Suppl.]

old-maidish (?), a. Like an old maid; prim; precise; particular; overly fastidious.
Syn. -- fussy, old-womanish.
[ Webster]

Old-maidism (?), n. The condition or characteristics of an old maid. G. Eliot.
[ Webster]

old-man-of-the-woods n. An edible mild-tasting mushroom (Strobilomyces floccopus) found in coniferous woodlands of eastern North America.
Syn. -- old man of the woods, Strobilomyces floccopus.
[WordNet 1.5]

Oldness, n. The state or quality of being old; old age.
[ Webster]

Oldster (?), n. [Cf. .] An old person. [Jocular] H. Kingsley.
[ Webster]

old-time adj. attractively old-fashioned.
Syn. -- quaint.
[WordNet 1.5]

oldwife n. 1. (Zoöl.) The local name of various fishes, as the European black sea bream (Cantharus lineatus), the American alewife, etc.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. (Zoöl.) A tropical Atlantic fish (Bessy cerca). [wns=1]
Syn. -- queen triggerfish, Bessy cerca, oldwench, Balistes vetula.
[ Webster]

3. (Zoöl.) A common long-tailed sea duck (Clangula hyemalis) of the northern parts of the US; also called old squaw. [wns=2]
Syn. -- old squaw, Clangula hyemalis.
[WordNet 1.5]

old-womanish (?), a. Like an old woman; anile; primly fastidious; old-maidish. -- Old-womanishness, n.
Syn. -- fussy, old-maidish.
[ Webster + WordNet 1.5]

Old World n. The combined territories of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Eastern Hemisphere, as distinguished from The Americas, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.
[PJC]

old-world adj. 1. Characteristic of former times especially in Europe; as, an old-world cottage.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. (Biology) Native to the Old World; not found in the Americas; as, old-world monkeys.
[PJC]

Olea (?), prop. n. [L. olive. See .] (Bot.) A genus of trees including the olive.
[ Webster]

☞ The Chinese Olea fragrans, noted for its fragrance, and the American devilwood (Olea Americana) are now usually referred to another genus (Osmanthus).
[ Webster]

Oleaceae prop. n. A natural family of trees and shrubs having berries or drupes or capsules as fruits; the olive family; sometimes placed in the order Oleales; it includes the olive; ash; jasmine; privet; and lilac.
Syn. -- family Oleaceae, olive family.
[WordNet 1.5]

Oleaceous (?), a. [L. oléaceus of the olive tree.] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a natural family of plants (Oleaceæ), mostly trees and shrubs, of which the olive is the type. It includes also the ash, the lilac, the true jasmine, and fringe tree.
[ Webster]

Oleaginous (?), a. [L. oleaginus, oleagineus, belonging to the olive, fr. olea olive: cf. F. oléagineux. See , .] Having the nature or qualities of oil; oily; unctuous.
[ Webster]

Oleaginousness, n. Oiliness. Boyle.
[ Webster]

Oleamen (?), n. [L.] (Med.) A soft ointment prepared from oil. Dunglison.
[ Webster]

Oleander (?), n. [F. oléandre (cf. It. oleandro, LL. lorandrum), prob. corrupted, under the influence of laurus laurel, fr. L. rhododendron, Gr. �; � rose + � tree.] (Bot.) A beautiful evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) of the Dogbane family, having clusters of fragrant red, white, or pink flowers. It is a native of the East Indies, but the red variety has become common in the south of Europe. Called also rosebay, rose laurel, and South-sea rose.
[ Webster +PJC]

☞ Every part of the plant is dangerously poisonous, and death has occured from using its wood for skewers in cooking meat.
[ Webster]

Oleandra prop. n. A genus of tropical epiphytic or terrestrial ferns; also classed as the family Polypodiaceae.
Syn. -- genus Oleandra.
[WordNet 1.5]

Oleandraceae prop. n. One of a number of families into which Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systems.
Syn. -- family Oleandraceae.
[WordNet 1.5]

Oleandrin (?), n. (Chem.) One of several cardiac glycosides (C32H48O9) found in oleander (Nerium oleander).
[PJC]

Oleandrine (?), n. (Chem.) One of several alkaloids found in the leaves of the oleander (Nerium oleander).
[ Webster]

Olearia prop. n. A large genus of Australian evergreen shrubs or small trees with large daisylike flowers.
Syn. -- genus Olearia.
[WordNet 1.5]

Oleaster (?), n. [L., fr. olea olive tree. See , .] (Bot.) (a) The wild olive tree (Olea Europea, var. sylvestris). (b) Any species of the genus Elæagus. See . The small silvery berries of the common species (Elæagnus hortensis) are called Trebizond dates, and are made into cakes by the Arabs.
[ Webster]

Oleate (?), n. [Cf. F. oléate.] (Chem.) A salt of oleic acid. Some oleates, as the oleate of mercury, are used in medicine by way of inunction.
[ Webster]

Olecranal (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the olecranon.
[ Webster]

Olecranon (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �; � elbow + kranion the head.] (Anat.) The large process at the proximal end of the ulna which projects behind the articulation with the humerus and forms the bony prominence of the elbow.
[ Webster]

Olefiant (?), a. [F. oléfiant, fr.L. oleum oil + -ficare (in comp.). Cf. .] (Chem.) Forming or producing an oil; specifically, designating a colorless gaseous hydrocarbon called ethylene (olefiant gas). [Archaic]
[ Webster]

olefin, olefine (ōl�fĭn or ōl�fēn), n. [From .] 1. (Chem.) Olefiant gas, or ethylene. See . [archaic]
[ Webster]

2. Hence: (Chem.) Any one of the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons of which ethylene is the type; a member of the alkene series of hydrocarbons; an alkene.
[ Webster + PJC]

Oleic (ōlēĭk or ōlāĭk or ōl�ĭk), a. [L. oleum oil: cf. F. oléique.] (Physiol.Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or contained in, oil; as, oleic acid, an acid of the acrylic acid series found combined with glyceryl in the form of olein in certain animal and vegetable fats and oils, such as sperm oil, olive oil, etc. At low temperatures the acid is crystalline, but melts to an oily liquid above 14° C.
[ Webster]

Oleiferous (?), a. [L. oleum oil + -ferous: cf. F. oléifére.] Producing oil; as, oleiferous seeds.
[ Webster]

Olein (ōl�ĭn), n. [L. oleum oil: cf. F. oléine.] (Physiol. Chem.) A fat, liquid at ordinary temperatures, but solidifying at temperatures below 0° C., found abundantly in both the animal and vegetable kingdoms (see ). It dissolves solid fats, especially at 30-40° C. Chemically, olein is a glyceride of oleic acid; and, as three molecules of the acid are united to one molecule of glycerol to form the fat, it is technically known as triolein. It is also called elain.
[ Webster]

Olent (?), a. [L. olens, p. pr. of olere to smell.] Scented. [R.] R. Browning.
[ Webster]

Oleograph (?), n. [L. oleum oil + -graph.] 1. (Chem.) The form or figure assumed by a drop of oil when placed upon water or some other liquid with which it does not mix.
[ Webster]

2. (Painting) A picture produced in oils by a process analogous to that of lithographic printing.
[ Webster]

Oleography (?), n. 1. Art or process of producing the pictures known as oleographs.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. A process of identifying oils by their oleographs.
[Webster Suppl.]

Oleomargarine (?), n. [L. oleum oil + E. margarine, margarin.] [Written also oleomargarin.] 1. A liquid oil made from animal fats (esp. beef fat) by separating the greater portion of the solid fat or stearin, by crystallization. It is mainly a mixture of olein and palmitin with some little stearin. [archaic]
[ Webster]

2. An artificial butter made by emulsifying a fatty oil with more or less milk and water; it was formerly made predominantly from animal fats, but now is made predominantly or exclusively from vegetable oils, sometimes mixed with animal fats.
[ Webster +PJC]

☞ Oleomargarine was wrongly so named, as it contains no margarin proper, but olein, palmitin, and stearin, a mixture of palmitin and stearin having formerly been called margarin by mistake.
[ Webster]

Oleometer (?), n. [L. oleum oil + -meter.] (Chem.) An instrument for ascertaining the weight and purity of oil; an elaiometer.
[ Webster]

Oleone (?), n. [L. oleum + -one, 1.] (Chem.) An oily liquid, obtained by distillation of calcium oleate, and probably consisting of the ketone of oleic acid.
[ Webster]

Oleo oil (?). An oil expressed from certain animal fats (esp. beef suet), the greater portion of the solid fat, or stearin, being left behind. It is mixture of olein, palmitin, and a little stearin.
[Webster Suppl.]

Oleoptene (?), n. [L. oleum oil + Gr. � fleeting.] (Chem.) See . [R.]
[ Webster]

Oleoresin (?), n. [L. oleum oil + E. resin.] 1. (Chem.) A natural mixture of a terebinthinate oil and a resin.
[ Webster]

2. (Med.) A liquid or semiliquid preparation extracted (as from capsicum, cubebs, or ginger) by means of ether, and consisting of fixed or volatile oil holding resin in solution.
[ Webster]

-- Oleoresinous (#), a.
[ Webster]

{ Oleose (?), Oleous (?), } a. [L. oleosus, fr. oleum oil.] Oily. [R.] Ray. Floyer.
[ Webster]

Oleosity (?), n. The state or quality of being oily or fat; fatness. [R.] B. Jonson.
[ Webster]

Oleraceous (?), a. [L. oleraceus, from olus, oleris, garden or pot herbs, vegetables.] Pertaining to pot herbs; of the nature or having the qualities of herbs for cookery; esculent. Sir T. Browne.
[ Webster]

Olf (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.) The European bullfinch. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Olfaction (?), n. [See .] (Physiol.) The sense by which the impressions made on the olfactory organs by the odorous particles in the atmosphere are perceived.
[ Webster]

Olfactive (?), a. See , a.
[ Webster]

Olfactor (?), n. A smelling organ; a nose. [R.]
[ Webster]

Olfactory (?), a. [L. olfactus, p. p. of olfacere to smell; olere to have a smell + facere to make. See , and .] (Physiol.) Of, pertaining to, or connected with, the sense of smell; as, the olfactory nerves; the olfactory cells.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Olfactory organ (Anat.), an organ for smelling. In vertebrates the olfactory organs are more or less complicated sacs, situated in the front part of the head and lined with epithelium innervated by the olfactory (or first cranial) nerves, and sensitive to odoriferous particles conveyed to it in the air or in water.
[ Webster]

Olfactory (?), n.; pl. Olfactories (�). An olfactory organ; also, the sense of smell; -- usually in the plural.
[ Webster]

Olfersia prop. n. genus consisting of one species; in some classification systems it is included in the genus Polyboatrya.
Syn. -- genus Olfersia.
[WordNet 1.5]

Oliban (?), n. (Chem.) See .
[ Webster]

Olibanum (?), n. [LL., fr. Ar. al-luban frankincense; cf. Gr. �, �, of Semitic origin.] The fragrant gum resin of various species of Boswellia; Oriental frankincense.
[ Webster]

Olibene (?), n. (Chem.) A colorless mobile liquid of a pleasant aromatic odor obtained by the distillation of olibanum, or frankincense, and regarded as a terpene; -- called also conimene.
[ Webster]

{ Olid (?), Olidous (?), } a. [L. olidus, fr. olere to smell.] Having a strong, disagreeable smell; fetid. [Obs.] Boyle. Sir T. Browne.
[ Webster]

Olifant (?), n. [OF.] 1. An elephant. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

2. An ancient horn, made of ivory.
[ Webster]

Oligandrous (?), a. [Oligo- + Gr. �, �, man, male.] (Bot.) Having few stamens.
[ Webster]

Oliganthous (?), a. [Oligo- + Gr. 'anqos flower.] (Bot.) Having few flowers.
[ Webster]

Oligarch (?), n. A member of an oligarchy; one of the rulers in an oligarchical government.
[ Webster]

Oligarchal (?), a. Oligarchic. Glover.
[ Webster]

{ Oligarchic (?), Oligarchical, } a. [Gr. �: cf. F. oligarchique. See .] Of or pertaining to oligarchy, or government by a few. “Oligarchical exiles.” Jowett (Thucyd.).
[ Webster]

Oligarchist (?), n. An advocate or supporter of oligarchy.
[ Webster]

Oligarchy (?), n.; pl. Oligarchies (#). [Gr. �; 'oligos few, little + 'archein to rule, govern: cf. F. oligarchie.] A form of government in which the supreme power is placed in the hands of a few persons; also, those who form the ruling few.
[ Webster]

All oligarchies, wherein a few men domineer, do what they list. Burton.
[ Webster]

Oligist (?), n. [See , a.] (Min.) Hematite or specular iron ore; -- prob. so called in allusion to its feeble magnetism, as compared with magnetite.
[ Webster]

{ Oligist (?), Oligistic (?), } a. [Gr. �, superl. of 'oligos few, little: cf. F. oligiste.] (Min.) Of or pertaining to hematite.
[ Webster]

Oligo- (?). A combining form from Gr. 'oligos, few, little, small.
[ Webster]

Oligocene (?), a. [Oligo- + Gr. � new, recent.] (Geol.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, certain strata which occupy an intermediate position between the Eocene and Miocene periods. -- n. The Oligocene period. See the Chart of .
[ Webster]

Oligochaeta, Oligochæta (?), prop. n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'oligos little, pl., few + � hair.] (Zoöl.) An order of Annelida which includes the earthworms and related species, including some small freshwater species.
[ Webster +PJC]

oligochaete n. Any of an order of hermaphroditic terrestrial and aquatic annelids (including the earthworms) having bristles borne singly along the length of the body; a member of the Oligochaeta.
Syn. -- oligochaete worm.
[WordNet 1.5]

oligochaetous n. Of or pertaining to the Oligochæta. [archaic]
Syn. -- Oligochete.
[PJC]

oligochete (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Oligochæta. [archaic]
Syn. -- oligochaetous.
[ Webster]

Oligoclase (?), n. [Oligo- + Gr. � fracture, fr. � to break.] (Min.) A triclinic soda-lime feldspar. See .
[ Webster]

oligomer (?), n. (Chem.) A molecule composed of a small number of linked monomer units; a short polymer; -- compounds called oligomers have less than one hundred monomer units and usually less than thirty. Oligomers of increasing length are called dimer, trimer, tetramer, pentamer, hexamer, heptamer, octamer, nonamer, decamer, etc. In colloquial laboratory jargon, they may also be referred to as nine-mer, ten-mer, eleven-mer, twelve-mer, etc., especially for oligomers of greater than eight units.
[PJC]

Oligomerous (?), a. [Oligo- + Gr. meros part.] (Bot.) Having few members in each set of organs; as, an oligomerous flower.
[ Webster]

Oligomyoid (?), a. [Oligo- + Gr. �, �, a muscle + -oid.] (Anat.) Having few or imperfect syringeal muscles; -- said of some passerine birds (Oligomyodi).
[ Webster]

Oligopetalous (?), a. [Oligo- + petal.] (Bot.) Having few petals.
[ Webster]

Oligosepalous (?), a. [Oligo- + sepal.] (Bot.) Having few sepals.
[ Webster]

Oligosiderite (?), n. [Oligo- + siderite.] (Min.) A meteorite characterized by the presence of but a small amount of metallic iron.
[ Webster]

Oligospermous (?), a. [Oligo- + Gr. sperma a seed.] (Bot.) Having few seeds.
[ Webster]

Oligotokous (?), a. [Oligo- + Gr. � offspring.] (Zoöl.) Producing few young.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z