oscitation

O1S1C3I1T1A1T1I1O1N1
/ˌɒsɪˈteɪʃən/

noun

The act of yawning or gaping.

Scrabble 12

Meanings

nounoscitation (plural oscitations)

plural oscitations

  1. alsofigurativelyThe act of yawning or gaping.

    Ossitacio is the latyn worde..In englysh it is named ossitacion yeanynge or gapynge.

    1547, A. Borde, edited by Bill Long, Breuiary of Helthe, published 2006, archived from the original on 09 Dec 2012
    1 more example

    But I shall defer considering this subject at large, until I come to my treatise of oscitation, laughter, and ridicule.

    1709 September 12 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Joseph Addison], “Thursday, September 2, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 63; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume I, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC
  2. obsoleteThe condition of being listless, drowsy, negligent, or inattentive; an occurrence of such negligence or inattention.

    These transient fits of oscitation, and inactivity, are perhaps no more than a necessary relaxation to the mind, and serve to quicken its faculties to a more lively sensation of returning pleasure.

    1744, “Letters of Mrs. Carter and Miss Talbot”, in The Eclectic Review, volume 4, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, published 1808, page 980

Origin

  1. Latinōscitātiō
  2. Englishoscitation

Latin ōscitātiō, from ōscitō (“to gape”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

oscitation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oscitation

MLA

“oscitation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oscitation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oscitation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oscitation.

Source: oscitation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.