Word origins

• of a certain ageMiddle-aged or older.
• officialityThe charge, office, court, or jurisdiction of an official.
• OgossagouA village in Mopti, Mali.
• ogressA female ogre.
• oignon vertmeter maid
• oilletA round hole or circle with which an opening for an arrowslit terminates.
• old fogeyAn old and overly conservative person.
• old guardA conservative, reactionary faction that is more unwilling to accept new ideas than their peers are.
• olefiantThat produces oil
• oleomargarineA fatty substance obtained by solidifying purified beef fat, used to make the butter substitute margarine; also, (US) the butter substitute produced in this way, margarine.
• OléronAn island in the Charente-Maritime department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• olivasterOf the color of the olive; tawny.
• ombréA gradual blending of one color hue to another, usually moving tints and shades from light to dark.
• ombres chinoisesA type of shadow puppetry where silhouettes of figures, often cardboard cutouts, are projected onto a screen to tell stories.
• omoplateThe scapula.
• OmpraretA surname from French.
• ondes martenotAn early electric keyboard instrument.
• on ditA rumour; hearsay
• ondographAn instrument for autographically recording the waveforms of varying currents, especially rapidly varying alternating currents.
• ongletA hanger steak.
• -onymWord.
• oogoneAn oogonium.
• ooh la laA reply implying pretentiousness; often in response to another person's use of a big word, especially a loanword that English got from French.
• -oonForming nouns, mainly in borrowed words.
• open sesameopen up (especially referring to doors)
• opera bouffeA type of French comic opera, typified by everyday characters and ludicrous situations.
• opéra comiqueAn opera, or genre of opera, characterised by spoken dialogue interspersed between the arias and ensemble numbers.
• opinionistOne fond of his own notions, or unduly attached to his own opinions.
• oragiousstormy
• orceina dye, related to litmus, that is extracted from the lichen Rocella tinctoria; used as a microscopic stain and as a food colouring
• OrcelA surname from French.
• orchesographyAn enhanced form of choreography that includes details of the music to accompany the dance
• orchiesA commune in the département of Nord, in the region of Hauts-de-France, in France, near its border with Belgium.
• orcinThe organic compound 3,5-dihydroxytoluene, found in many lichens and synthesizable from toluene.
• oreille de crisseTraditional Quebecois-style pork rinds.
• oreilletteA flap or plate covering the ear in medieval armor helmets and civilian clothing.
• orfrayThe osprey.
• organzineA kind of double thrown silk of very fine texture; silk twisted like a rope with different strands, so as to increase its strength.
• orgeatA sweet syrup made from sugar and almonds (or originally barley) and rose water or orange-flower water.
• orillonA semicircular or squared off projection made at the shoulder of a bastion for the purpose of covering the retired flank, found in old fortresses.
• OrkhonA sheep of a Mongolian breed developed in 1961, reared primarily for wool.
• orpailleurgold prospector, gold panner
• orphelineAn orphan.
• orphéonA French male choral society.
• orpheonistA member of an orphéon.
• OrpustanA surname from French.
• orsellic acidAn acid found in certain lichens, such as orchil.
• ortetThe original single parent plant from which a clone ultimately derives.
• orthotenyThe study of straight lines, especially in regards to the flight paths that UFOs tend to follow.
• orvetThe slowworm.
• orvietanA medicinal preparation made from herbs, wine and honey, thought to be an antidote for any poison.
• OsminA surname.
• ossatureA skeletal framework; an underlying structure.
• OssauA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• ossifyTo transform (or cause to transform) from a softer animal substance into bone; particularly the processes of growth in humans and animals.
• OssunA town in Hautes-Pyrénées department, Occitania, France.
• OsteA surname.
• ostensorymonstrance
• osteochondrophytea tumor composed of bone and cartilage
• osteophyteA small, abnormal growth of bone (exostosis, bone spur) that forms along joint margins.
• -oticHaving disease or abnormal condition.
• otoconiumSynonym of otolith.
• ouarineA howler monkey (Alouatta spp.).
• OudetA surname from French.
• OuessantA sheep of a certain hardy breed raised for wool.
• OuilhonA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• OulieA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• OurtheA river in Wallonia, Belgium, tributary to the Meuse.
• OussetA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• OustaletA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• OustauA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• outardThe Canada goose.
• outréBeyond what is customary or proper; extravagant.
• outréeUsed when referring to a woman: feminine of outré.
• OutremountSynonym of Outremont.
• ouvreurAn usher
• ouvreuseAn usherette.
• ouvrièreA female ouvrier.
• ouvrierismThe glorification of manual laborers, often in opposition to the leadership of labor or socialist movements.
• oxy-Sharp, keen, acute, pungent, acid
• OyhenartA surname from French.
• OzenneA surname from French.
• ozierA surname from French.
• pacotilleSomething of little or no value exchanged for something valuable, originally goods exchanged for slaves.
• paduasoyA rich and heavy silk material.
• pagneA length of wax-print fabric made in West Africa, worn as a single wrap or made into other clothing, and serving as a form of currency.
• paillassonA kind of straw bonnet.
• pailletteA sequin or spangle.
• pain au chocolatA French snack consisting of a pastry, normally similar to a croissant, with chocolate inside.
• pain aux raisinsA spiral pastry containing raisins, originating in France and often eaten for breakfast.
• pain de campagneA type of bread from France formed in large round loaves.
• pain de mieA type of soft bread made with sugar, with a soft crust and interior.
• pain d'épicesA form of French gingerbread.
• pair of shoesA case or situation that is different from another.
• palafitteSynonym of pile (“wooden structure used to support prehistoric dwellings”).
• paleotestamentarySynonym of vetero-testamentary.
• paleothereAny extinct mammal of the genus Palaeotherium.
• paleotherianOf or relating to Palaeotherium.
• paletotA loose outer jacket, cloak, coat, overcoat, greatcoat, three-quarter coat.
• palingenesyRebirth; regeneration.