OBSCURE WORDS O

obambulate
v. - to walk about, wander

obbligato
adj. n. - Music, accompanying, or accompaniment, by solo instrument
other than piano.

obdormition
n. - numbness or 'going to sleep' of a limb, etc.

obdurate
adj. - obstinate; hard-hearted. obduracy, n.

obeisance
n. - bow or curtsey; paying of homage. obeisant, adj.

obelize
v. - mark with obelus; especially to mark as spurious.

obelus
n. - (pl. obeli ), mark of reference signifying spurious passage in
manuscript, etc.

obganiate
v. - to irritate with reiteration

obiter dictum
n. - (pl. obiter dicta) 'thing said in passing'; casual or incidental
remark or opinion.

objicient
n. - objector.

objurgate
v. - rebuke; scold. objurgation, n. objurgatory, adj.

objurgation
n. - an earnest denunciation, rebuke, or scolding; harsh criticism

oblate
adj.,n. - dedicated (person); a. Geometry, flattened at poles.
oblation, n. offering; sacrifice. oblational, adj.

oblatrate
n. - to snarl at, inveigh against

oblectation
n. - delight, pleasure

oblocution
n. - interruption

obloquy
n. - abuse; disgrace. oblocutor, n. one who denies or disputes.

obnubilation
n. - beclouding or obscuring; obfuscation

obreption
n. - attempt to obtain ecclesiastical dispensation, etc.,
fraudulently. obreptitious, adj. performed in underhand fashion.

obreption
n. - creeping up on

obrogate
v. - alter (law) by passing new law. obrogation, n.

obscurantism
n. - prevention of enlightenment. obscurantic, adj. obscurantist, n.

obscurum per obscurius
phr. - explaining the obscure by means of the more obscure

obsecrate
v. - beseech. obsecration, n.

obsecrations
n. - entreaties

obsidional, obsidionary
adj. - pertaining to siege.

obsolagnium
n. - waning sexual desire due to age

obstipation
n. - complete constipation.

obstriction
n. - obligation.

obstrobogulous
adj. - a vehement oath of expansive meaning

obstruent
adj.,n. - Medicine, blocking up body passage. Phonetics/Linguistics,
sound characterized by obstruction of the airstream: a plosive,
fricative, or affricate.

obtenebrate
v. - darken; cast shadow over.

obtest
v. - beseech; invoke; adjure. obtestation, n.

obtrude
v. - thrust (oneself) forward in an annoying way; thrust (something)
out or forward. obtrusive, adj. obtrusion, n.

obtruncate
v. - behead. obtruncation, n.

obtund
v. - blunt; dull. obtundent, n. & a. (drug) dulling pain.

obturate
v. - stop up, especially obturation, obturator, n.

obumbrate
adj. - obsolete darkened; hidden under a projection. obumbrant, adj.
over-hanging.

obvallate
adj. - walled in.

obvention
n. - casual or occasional happening or gift.

obvert
v. - turn; alter. obversion, n.

obvolute
adj. - over-lapping; twisted. obvolution, n.

occamy
n. - alloy imitating silver or gold.

occiput
n. - back of head. occipital, a.; n. such bone.

ocellus
n. - (pl. -li small eye; eye-like colored spot. ocellar, adj.
ocellated, adj. bearing ocelli. ocellation, n.

oche
n. - mark on floor behind which darts player must stand.

ochlesis
n. - unhealthy condition due to over-crowding.

ochlocracy
n. - mob rule

ocracy
n. - government.

octactinal
adj. - eight-rayed.

octad
n. - group of eight.

octamerous
adj. - having its parts in eights.

octameter
n. - verse-line of eight feet.

octant
n. - eighth part of circle (45°); angle-measuring instrument with that arc.

octapla
n. - multilingual book in eight texts, especially part of Bible.

octapody
n. - octameter.

octarchy
n. - government by eight persons; alliance of eight independent governments.

octastich
n. - poem or stanza of eight lines.

octateuch
n. - series of eight books; first eight books of Old Testament.

octavo
n. - book size: foolscap octavo, 63/4 x 41/4 in; crown octavo, 71/2 x
5 in; large crown octavo, 8 x 51/4 in; demy octavo, 83/4 x 55/8 in;
medium octavo, 91/2 x 6 in; royal octavo, 10 x 61/4 in; super royal
octavo, 101/4 x 67/8 in; imperial octavo, 11 x 71/2 in (abbr. 8vo.).

octennial
adj. - happening in every eighth year; lasting eight years.

octodecimo
n. - book size. demy octodecimo, 53/4 x 33/4 in (abbr. 18mo.).

octonary
adj. - pertaining to or consisting of eight; in groups of eight; n.
stanza of eight lines.

octoploid, octaploid
adj. - eight-fold; having eight times basic number of chromosomes; n. such cell.

octosyllable
n. - verse line or word of eight syllables. octosyllabic, adj.

octroi
n. - trading privilege; concession; monopoly; tax on goods imported
into town, and place where it is collected.

ocular
adj. - pertaining to eyes; visual. oculate, adj. having eyes. oculist,
n. opthalmologist. oculus, n. Architecture, any eye-like feature,
especially window.

odium
n. - hatred; reproach. odious, adj. hateful, repugnant.

odium aestheticum
phr. - the bitterness of aesthetical controversy

odium scholasticum
phr. - acrimony between scholars or pedants; academic quibbling

odium theologicum
phr. - bitter hatred between rival theologians

odograph
n. - instrument recording distance travelled, especially by
pedestrian. odometer, n.

odorivector
n. - substance causing odour.

oecist
n. - colonist.

oeil-de-boeuf
n. - (pl. oeils-de-boeuf) round or oval window.

oeillade
n. - glance, ogle.

officinal
adj. - used in medicine, art or industry; stocked by pharmacists; n. such drug.

ogdoad
n. - eight; group of eight.

ogee
n. - moulding with S-shaped section; a. S-shaped. ogee arch, pointed
arch with ogee curve on either side.

ogham, ogam
n. - ancient British alphabet of notches; character of ogam. ogamic, adj.

ogive
n. - pointed arch; vault's diagonal rib. ogival, adj.

oikofugic
n. - obsessive wandering

oikonisus
n. - urge to start a family

olamic
adj. - infinite, eternal

oleaster
n. - yellow-flowered, olive-like shrub of S Europe; erroneously, wild olive.

olecranon
n. - projecting bone of elbow; 'funny-bone'. olecranal, adj.

oleic
adj. - pertaining to or derived from oil. oleiferous, adj. oil-producing.

olent
adj. - archaic, fragrant.

oleograph
n. - lithographic reproduction of oil painting. oleography, n.

oleometer
n. - oil hydrometer; instrument measuring amount of oil in substance.

oleraceous
adj. - potherb-like; edible.

olet lucernam
phr. - it smells of the lamp: describing something written that is
belabored or overwrought

olid
adj. - evil-smelling.

oligochronometer
n. - instrument measuring very short time intervals.

oligocythaemia
n. - deficiency of red corpuscles in blood.

oligodontous
adj. - having few teeth.

oligodynamic
adj. - pertaining to effect of small quantities; having effect in
small quantities only.

oligomycin
n. - antibiotic used against plant fungi.

oligophagous
adj. - eating a few sorts of food only.

oligophrenia
n. - feeble-mindedness

oligopoly
n. - market dominated by a few producers.

oligosyllable
n. - word of few syllables.

olisbos
n. - a dildo

olitory
adj. - archaic, pertaining to pot-herbs or kitchen garden.

olivet
n. - artificial pearl; olive grove; Mount of Olives.

ollapod
n. - pharmacist

omasum
n. - (pl. omasa) third stomach of ruminants. omasitis, n. inflammation
of omasum.

ombibulous
adj. - drinking everything

ombrology
n. - study of rain. ombrograph, n. recording ombrometer. ombrometer,
n. rain gauge. ombrophile, n. plant flourishing in extremely rainy
conditions. ombrophobe, n. plant thriving only in desert conditions.

omentum
n. - (pl. omenta) fold of the peritoneum. great omentum, fat-filled
sac covering small intestines. lesser omentum, omentum joining stomach
with liver. omental, adj.

omneity
n. - state of including all things. omnes, Latin n. pl. 'all
(persons)'. omniana, n. scraps of information of every kind.

omnicompetent
adj. - legally competent in all matters. omnifarious, adj. of all
kinds. omnific, omnificent, adj. creating all things. omnify, v. make
large or universal. omnigenous, adj. of all kinds. omnipotent, adj.
all-powerful. omnipresent, adj. present everywhere. omniscient, adj.
knowing everything. omnium, n. Commerce, total of parts of fund or
stock. omnium gatherum, n. miscellaneous collection, especially of
persons. omnivorous, adj. feeding on all kinds of food.

omnilegent
adj. - reading or having read everything; having encyclopedic
curiosity and knowledge

omodynia
n. - pain in shoulder.

omophagy, omophagia
n. - eating of raw flesh. omophagic, omophagous, adj.

omoplate
n. - shoulder blade.

omphalomancy
n. - predicting the number of children a mother will bear by counting
the knots in her first-born's umbilical cord

omphalos
n. - (pl. -li) navel; central point. omphaloskepsis, n. meditation
while gazing at one's navel. omphalic, adj. omphaloid, adj. like a
navel.

omphaloskepsis
n. - contemplation of the navel for the purpose of obtaining philosophic calm

onager
n. - (pl. -gri ) wild ass of Asia. onagraceous, adj. belonging to
evening primrose family of plants.

onanism
n. - masturbation. onanist, n. onanistic, adj.

ondatra
n. - musk-rat.

ondograph
n. - instrument measuring variations in wave formation of electric
current. ondogram, n. record of ondograph ondoscope, n. instrument
showing such wave form.

ondoyant
adj. - wavy.

oneirataxia
n. - inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality

oneiric
adj. - having to do with dreams

oneirocritic
n. - someone who interprets dreams

oniochalasia
n. - buying as a means of mental relaxation

oniomania
n. - mania for making purchases. oniomaniac, n.

onomancy
n. - divination from letters of a name.

onomasiology
n. - branch of semantics dealing with related words and their meanings.

onomastic
adj. - pertaining to or consisting of names; applied to autograph
signature in one hand on document written in another. onomastics n.
pl. study of proper names. onomasticon n. vocabulary of proper names.
onomatology, n. science of names. onomatomania, n. irresistible desire
to repeat certain words continually, especially words of something to
be remembered.

onomatomania
n. - preoccupation with words and names

onomatophobia
n. - fear of hearing a certain word

onomatopoeia
n. - the forming of or use of a word that imitates in sound what it
denotes; use of imitative or echoic words

ontogeny, ontogenesis
n. - life history of individual organism. ontogenetic, ontogenic, adj.

onus probandi
phr. - the burden of proof

onychia, onychitis
n. - inflammation of root or side of nail. onychauxis, n. hypertrophy
of nails. onychoid a. fingernail-like. onychophagia, n. nail-biting.
onychosis, n. disease of nail.

onyxis
n. - ingrowing nail.

oogamete
n. - female gamete. oogenesis, n. egg-formation. oogamous, adj. heterogamous.

ooid(al)
adj. - egg-shaped.

oolite
n. - limestone comprising small egg-like grains. oolitic, adj.

oology
n. - collection and study of birds' eggs. oologic(al), adj. oologize,
v.i. search for birds' eggs. oologist, n.

oometer
n. - egg-measuring instrument.

ooscope
n. - instrument for examining interior of egg.

oosperm
n. - fertilized egg. oospore, n. spore arising from fertilized egg cell.

ootheca
n. - firm-walled egg-case of some molluscs and insects.

opeidoscope
n. - instrument showing sound vibrations by vibrating mirror.

operculum
n. - (pl. -s or -la) lid-like organ, as of moss capsule and mollusc
shell; fish's gill cover. opercular, adj. operculate, adj.

operon
n. - group of genes operating as a unit.

operose
adj. - requiring effort; working hard.

ophelimity
n. - the ability to please (sexually)

ophiasis
n. - baldness in wavy bands.

ophic
adj. - pertaining to serpents. ophism, n. snake-worship.

ophicleide
n. - bass bugle-like keyed brass musical instrument. ophicleidean,
adj. ophicleidist, n.

ophidian
adj.,n. - (reptile) belonging to order of reptiles including snakes;
like snakes. ophidioid, adj. snake-like. ophiolog ,n. study of snakes.
ophiomorphic, adj. snake-shaped.

ophthalmia
n. - inflammation of eye. ophthalmic, adj. pertaining to eye.
ophthalmology, n. study of eye and its diseases. ophthalmometer, n.
instrument for measuring eye, especially for astigmatism.
ophthalmoplegia, n. paralysis of ocular muscles. ophthalmoscope n.
instrument for examining inner eye.

ophthalmophobia
n. - fear of being stared at

opiparous
adj. - sumptuous

opisometer
n. - instrument measuring curved lines.

opisthenar
n. - back of hand. opisthognathous, adj. with receding jaws.
opisthograph, n. ancient tablet or manuscript bearing writing on both
sides. opisthosomal, adj. pertaining to posteriors.

opopanax
n. - aromatic gum resin formerly used in medicine; now used in perfume
and some incenses.

oppidan
adj. - pertaining to town; n. town-dweller; student at Eton boarding
in the town.

oppilate
v. - Medicine, stop up. oppilation, n. oppilative, adj.

oppilations
n. - obstructions

oppugn
v. - call in question; deny; resist; conflict with. oppugnant, adj.
hostile, combative.

oppugnant
adj. - opposing; antagonistic; contrary

opsablepria
n. - inability to look someone in the eye

opsablepsia
n. - not looking into another's eyes

opsimath
n. - mature student; late learner.

opsonin
n. - substance of blood serum making bacteria vulnerable to phagocytic action.

optative
adj. - Grammar, (mood) expressing wish.

optogram
n. - image fixed on retina. optometry, n. measuring range of vision;
eye-testing. optophone, n. instrument enabling blind to read by
transforming light into sound. optotypes, n. pl. varying-sized print
for eye-testing.

opuscule
n. - a minor composition or work

orache
n. - plant of the goosefoot family, especially one grown as a vegetable.

oracular
adj. - like an oracle; sententious; prophetic; ambiguous.

orant
n. - representation of a praying figure.

orarian
adj.,n. - (dweller) of the seashore.

oratio obliqua
phr. - indirect speech: reported speech, or relatingby another that is
modified and indirect

oratio recta
phr. - straight speech: actual or direct speech

orbicular
adj. - spherical; circular. orbiculate, adj. orbiculation, n.

orbific
adj. - world-creating.

orchesis
n. - art of dancing in Greek chorus.

orchidaceous
adj. - pertaining to or like an orchid; exceptionally beautiful;
ostentatious; gaudy.

orchidectomy
n. - castration

orchitis
n. - inflammation of testicles. orchidectomy, n. removal of testicle(s).

ore rotundo
phr. - with a round mouth: eloquently, with considered emphasis

oread
n. - mountain nymph.

orectic
adj. - pertaining to desires and their satisfaction. orexis, n. mental
desire; effort.

orfe
n. - small yellow fish kept in aquariums.

organum, organon
n. - logical system or method for investigating phenomena.

orgulous
adj. - proud and haughty; swelling

oriel
n. - projecting window or part of building containing window.

oriflamme
n. - royal red banner; battle standard.

oriform
adj. - mouth-shaped.

orismology
n. - the science of defining or explaining technical terms

orison
n. - short prayer

orlop
n. - ship's lowest deck.

ormolu
n. - type of brass that looks like gold

ornis
n. - avifauna.

orobathymetric
adj. - pertaining to map showing sea depths or submerged heights.

orogeny, orogenesis
n. - formation of mountains. orogenic, adj.

orograph
n. - machine recording heights and distances traversed. orographic,
adj. showing heights. orography, n. study of mountains.

orology
n. - study of mountains. orometer, n. barometer showing height above sea-level.

orotund
adj. - using high-flown language; speaking or singing clearly and
strongly. orotundity, n.

orphic
adj. - mystic, oracular; pertaining to Orpheus.

orphrey
n. - gold-embroidered band on ecclesiastical robes.

orpiment
n. - yellow compound of arsenic, used as pigment, etc.

orpine
n. - kind of stone-crop; British, livelong; American, live-forever.

orrery
n. - moving model of solar system.

orris
n. - kind of iris, and its rootstock used in perfumery, medicine, etc.

orthodromy, orthodromics
n. - navigation by great circle.

orthoepy
n. - correct pronunciation; study of pronunciation. orthoepic, adj.
orthoepist, n.

orthogenesis
n. - (belief that) biological variation results in new species, always
along same path; belief that the development of civilization always
proceeds in same way. orthogenetic, adj. orthogenic, adj. pertaining
to correction of children's mental defects.

orthognathism
n. - state of having straight jaws. orthognathous, adj. orthognathy, adj.

orthograde
adj. - walking with the body upright.

orthometopic
adj. - having vertical forehead.

orthopnoea
n. - ability to breathe in upright position only.

orthopraxy
n. - correct action.

orthopsychiatry
n. - preventive psychiatry for young people.

orthopterous
adj. - pertaining or belonging to insect order including grasshoppers,
crickets, etc. orthopteran, n. & a. orthopterist, n. student of
insects. orthopteron, n. such insect.

orthoptic
adj. - pertaining to correct vision.

orthosis
n. - correction of neurotic state.

orthostatic
adj. - pertaining to erect or standing position. orthotic, adj.

orthotonus
n. - spasmic bodily rigidity due to tetanus.

orthotropism
n. - vertical growth. orthotropic, adj.

ortolan
n. - kind of bunting (bird) esteemed as food.

orts
n. - Archaic, crumbs, scraps.

oryctognosy
n. - mineralogy. oryctognostic(al), adj. oryctology, n. mineralogy.

oryzivorous
adj. - rice-eating.

os
n. - (pl. ossa ) bone; (pl. ora ) mouth.

oscillometer
n. - instrument measuring ship's rollings, etc.; instrument measuring
blood pressure variations. oscillometric, adj.

oscine
adj. - (bird) belonging to sub-order of birds including singing birds.

oscitance, oscitancy
n. - yawning; sleepiness; dullness. oscitant, adj. oscitation, n.

osculate
v. -i. make contact; coincide; jocular, kiss. osculant, osculatory,
oscular, adj. pertaining to mouth or kissing. osculation n.

osmatic
adj. - relying on smell for orientation. osmesis, n. act of smelling.
osmics, n. study of sense of smell. osmidrosis, n. secretion of
strong- smelling perspiration.

osophy
n. - belief or doctrine; ism.

osphresis
n. - sense of smell. osphretic, adj.

osseous
adj. - bony. ossicle, n. small bone, especially of ear.

ossifrage
n. - lammergeier; osprey.

ossuary
n. - charnel-house.

osteal
adj. - pertaining to or like bone. osteitis, n. inflammation of bone.
ostosis, n. bone formation.

ostiary
n. - door-keeper, especially of church.

ostinato
n. - recurring musical phrase.

ostiole
n. - small orifice, pore.

ostreiform
adj. - oyster-shaped or -like. ostreiculture, n. oyster-breeding.
ostreoid, adj. oyster-like. ostreophagous, adj. oyster-eating.

otacoustic
adj.,n. - (instrument) aiding hearing.

otalgia
n. - earache. otalgic, n. & a. (curative) of earache.

otiant
adj. - idle; resting.

otic
adj. - pertaining to the ear. otitis, n. inflammation of the ear.
otolith, n. concretion or "stone' of ear. otology, n. study of ear and
its diseases. otorhinolaryngology, otolaryngology, n. study of ear,
nose and throat. otoscope, n. instrument for examining ear.
otosclerosis, n. growth of new bone in inner ear, leading to deafness.
otosis, n. mishearing of speech.

otiose
adj. - futile, functionless, sterile, idle

oubliette
n. - dungeon with entrance in roof.

outrecuidance
n. - egomania; gross conceit

outrooper
n. - an auctioneer

overweening
adj. - arrogantly excessive.

ovicide
n. - substance killing eggs, especially of insects. ovicidal, adj.

oviduct
n. - passage conveying eggs to exterior or place of fertilization;
Fallopian tube. oviductal, oviducal, adj.

ovine
adj. - pertaining to or like sheep; n. such animal. oviform, adj.
sheep- or egg-like.

oviparous
adj. - producing offspring in eggs. ovipositor, n. insect's tube-like
organ for depositing eggs. oviparity, n.

ovopyriform
adj. - between pear-shaped and egg-shaped.

ovoviviparous
adj. - producing offspring in eggs that hatch within parent's body.
ovoviviparity, n.

oxalidaceous
adj. - pertaining to or like wood sorrel (plant); belonging to wood
sorrel family of plants. oxalic, adj. of or from wood sorrel; oxalic
acid, poisonous acid used in dyeing, etc.

oxhoft
n. - measurement of approximately 57 gallons

oxyacanthous
adj. - with sharp thorns. oxyaesthesia, n. extreme acuteness of
sensation. oxyaphia, n. sensitivity of touch sense. oxyblepsia, n.
keen-sightedness. oxygeusia, n. extreme sensitivity of taste sense.

oxyopia
n. - abnormal keen-sightedness. oxyosphresia, n. extreme sensitivity
of smell sense. oxyphonia, n. shrillness of voice. oxyrhinch, adj.
sharp- nosed. oxytocia, n. quickness of child-birth. oxytocic, adj.
hastening childbirth.

oxythymous
adj. - quick-tempered; easily riled

oxytone
adj. - in ancient Greek, bearing acute accent on last syllable; n. such word.

ozocerite
n. - kind of waxy mineral.

ozostomia
n. - foul-smelling breath.