English Dictionary: optimism | by the DICT Development Group |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
d8O8bdium \[d8]O*[8b]d"i*um\, n. [NL., dim. fr. Gr. w,'o`n egg.] (Bot.) A genus of minute fungi which form a floccose mass of filaments on decaying fruit, etc. Many forms once referred to this genus are now believed to be temporary conditions of fungi of other genera, among them the vine mildew ({O[8b]dium Tuckeri}), which has caused much injury to grapes. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obedience \O*be"di*ence\, n. [F. ob[82]dience, L. obedientia, oboedientia. See {Obedient}, and cf.{Obeisance}.] 1. The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control. Government must compel the obedience of individuals. --Ames. 2. Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness. --Shak. 3. (Eccl.) (a) A following; a body of adherents; as, the Roman Catholic obedience, or the whole body of persons who submit to the authority of the pope. (b) A cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior. (c) One of the three monastic vows. --Shipley. (d) The written precept of a superior in a religious order or congregation to a subject. {Canonical obedience}. See under {Canonical}. {Passive obedience}. See under {Passive}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Priory \Pri"o*ry\, n.; pl. {Priories}. [Cf. LL. prioria. See {Prior}, n.] A religious house presided over by a prior or prioress; -- sometimes an offshoot of, an subordinate to, an abbey, and called also {cell}, and {obedience}. See {Cell}, 2. Note: Of such houses there were two sorts: one where the prior was chosen by the inmates, and governed as independently as an abbot in an abbey; the other where the priory was subordinate to an abbey, and the prior was placed or displaced at the will of the abbot. {Alien priory}, a small religious house dependent on a large monastery in some other country. Syn: See {Cloister}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obedience \O*be"di*ence\, n. [F. ob[82]dience, L. obedientia, oboedientia. See {Obedient}, and cf.{Obeisance}.] 1. The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control. Government must compel the obedience of individuals. --Ames. 2. Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness. --Shak. 3. (Eccl.) (a) A following; a body of adherents; as, the Roman Catholic obedience, or the whole body of persons who submit to the authority of the pope. (b) A cell (or offshoot of a larger monastery) governed by a prior. (c) One of the three monastic vows. --Shipley. (d) The written precept of a superior in a religious order or congregation to a subject. {Canonical obedience}. See under {Canonical}. {Passive obedience}. See under {Passive}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Priory \Pri"o*ry\, n.; pl. {Priories}. [Cf. LL. prioria. See {Prior}, n.] A religious house presided over by a prior or prioress; -- sometimes an offshoot of, an subordinate to, an abbey, and called also {cell}, and {obedience}. See {Cell}, 2. Note: Of such houses there were two sorts: one where the prior was chosen by the inmates, and governed as independently as an abbot in an abbey; the other where the priory was subordinate to an abbey, and the prior was placed or displaced at the will of the abbot. {Alien priory}, a small religious house dependent on a large monastery in some other country. Syn: See {Cloister}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obedienciary \O*be`di*en"ci*a*ry\, n. One yielding obedience. [Obs.] --Foxe. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obedient \O*be"di*ent\, a. [OF. obedient, L. obediens, oboediens, -entis. p. pr. of obedire, oboedire, to obey. See {Obey}.] Subject in will or act to authority; willing to obey; submissive to restraint, control, or command. And floating straight, obedient to the stream. --Shak. The chief his orders gives; the obedient band, With due observance, wait the chief's command. --Pope. Syn: Dutiful; respectful; compliant; submissive. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obediential \O*be`di*en"tial\, a. [Cf. F. ob[82]dientiel.] According to the rule of obedience. [R.] An obediental subjection to the Lord of Nature. --Sir M. Hale. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obediently \O*be"di*ent*ly\, adv. In an obedient manner; with obedience. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtain \Ob*tain"\, v. i. To gain or have a firm footing; to become recognized or established; to become or be prevalent or general; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtain \Ob*tain"\, v. i. 1. To become held; to gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized or established; to subsist; to become prevalent or general; to prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer. Sobriety hath by use obtained to signify temperance in drinking. --Jer. Taylor. The Theodosian code, several hundred years after Justinian's time, did obtain in the western parts of Europe. --Baker. 2. To prevail; to succeed. [R.] --Evelyn. So run that ye may obtain. --1 Cor. ix. 24. There is due from the judge to the advocate, some commendation, where causes are fair pleaded; especially towards the side which obtaineth not. --Bacon. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtain \Ob*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtaining}.] [F. obtenir, L. obtinere; ob (see {Ob-}) + tenere to hold. See {Tenable}.] 1. To hold; to keep; to possess. [Obs.] His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire He who obtains the monarchy of heaven. --Milton. 2. To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way. Some pray for riches; riches they obtain. --Dryden. By guileful fair words peace may be obtained. --Shak. It may be that I may obtain children by her. --Gen. xvi. 2. Syn: To attain; gain; procure; acquire; win; earn. Usage: See {Attain}. -- To {Obtain}, {Get}, {Gain}, {Earn}, {Acquire}. The idea of getting is common to all these terms. We may, indeed, with only a slight change of sense, substitute get for either of them; as, to get or to gain a prize; to get or to obtain an employment; to get or to earn a living; to get or to acquire a language. To gain is to get by striving; and as this is often a part of our good fortune, the word gain is peculiarly applicable to whatever comes to us fortuitously. Thus, we gain a victory, we gain a cause, we gain an advantage, etc. To earn is to deserve by labor or service; as, to earn good wages; to earn a triumph. Unfortunately, one does not always get or obtain what he has earned. To obtain implies desire for possession, and some effort directed to the attainment of that which is not immediately within our reach. Whatever we thus seek and get, we obtain, whether by our own exertions or those of others; whether by good or bad means; whether permanently, or only for a time. Thus, a man obtains an employment; he obtains an answer to a letter, etc. To acquire is more limited and specific. We acquire what comes to us gradually in the regular exercise of our abilities, while we obtain what comes in any way, provided we desire it. Thus, we acquire knowledge, property, honor, reputation, etc. What we acquire becomes, to a great extent, permanently our own; as, to acquire a language; to acquire habits of industry, etc. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtainable \Ob*tain"a*ble\, a. Capable of being obtained. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtain \Ob*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtaining}.] [F. obtenir, L. obtinere; ob (see {Ob-}) + tenere to hold. See {Tenable}.] 1. To hold; to keep; to possess. [Obs.] His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire He who obtains the monarchy of heaven. --Milton. 2. To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way. Some pray for riches; riches they obtain. --Dryden. By guileful fair words peace may be obtained. --Shak. It may be that I may obtain children by her. --Gen. xvi. 2. Syn: To attain; gain; procure; acquire; win; earn. Usage: See {Attain}. -- To {Obtain}, {Get}, {Gain}, {Earn}, {Acquire}. The idea of getting is common to all these terms. We may, indeed, with only a slight change of sense, substitute get for either of them; as, to get or to gain a prize; to get or to obtain an employment; to get or to earn a living; to get or to acquire a language. To gain is to get by striving; and as this is often a part of our good fortune, the word gain is peculiarly applicable to whatever comes to us fortuitously. Thus, we gain a victory, we gain a cause, we gain an advantage, etc. To earn is to deserve by labor or service; as, to earn good wages; to earn a triumph. Unfortunately, one does not always get or obtain what he has earned. To obtain implies desire for possession, and some effort directed to the attainment of that which is not immediately within our reach. Whatever we thus seek and get, we obtain, whether by our own exertions or those of others; whether by good or bad means; whether permanently, or only for a time. Thus, a man obtains an employment; he obtains an answer to a letter, etc. To acquire is more limited and specific. We acquire what comes to us gradually in the regular exercise of our abilities, while we obtain what comes in any way, provided we desire it. Thus, we acquire knowledge, property, honor, reputation, etc. What we acquire becomes, to a great extent, permanently our own; as, to acquire a language; to acquire habits of industry, etc. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtainer \Ob*tain"er\, n. One who obtains. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtain \Ob*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtaining}.] [F. obtenir, L. obtinere; ob (see {Ob-}) + tenere to hold. See {Tenable}.] 1. To hold; to keep; to possess. [Obs.] His mother, then, is mortal, but his Sire He who obtains the monarchy of heaven. --Milton. 2. To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way. Some pray for riches; riches they obtain. --Dryden. By guileful fair words peace may be obtained. --Shak. It may be that I may obtain children by her. --Gen. xvi. 2. Syn: To attain; gain; procure; acquire; win; earn. Usage: See {Attain}. -- To {Obtain}, {Get}, {Gain}, {Earn}, {Acquire}. The idea of getting is common to all these terms. We may, indeed, with only a slight change of sense, substitute get for either of them; as, to get or to gain a prize; to get or to obtain an employment; to get or to earn a living; to get or to acquire a language. To gain is to get by striving; and as this is often a part of our good fortune, the word gain is peculiarly applicable to whatever comes to us fortuitously. Thus, we gain a victory, we gain a cause, we gain an advantage, etc. To earn is to deserve by labor or service; as, to earn good wages; to earn a triumph. Unfortunately, one does not always get or obtain what he has earned. To obtain implies desire for possession, and some effort directed to the attainment of that which is not immediately within our reach. Whatever we thus seek and get, we obtain, whether by our own exertions or those of others; whether by good or bad means; whether permanently, or only for a time. Thus, a man obtains an employment; he obtains an answer to a letter, etc. To acquire is more limited and specific. We acquire what comes to us gradually in the regular exercise of our abilities, while we obtain what comes in any way, provided we desire it. Thus, we acquire knowledge, property, honor, reputation, etc. What we acquire becomes, to a great extent, permanently our own; as, to acquire a language; to acquire habits of industry, etc. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtainment \Ob*tain"ment\, n. The act or process of obtaining; attainment. --Milton. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtemper \Ob*tem"per\, v. t. & i. [See {Obtemperate}.] (Scots Law) To obey (a judgment or decree). | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtemperate \Ob*tem"per*ate\, v. t. [L. obtemperare, obtemperatum to obey.] To obey. [Obs.] --Johnson. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtend \Ob*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtending}.] [L. obtendere, obtentum, to stretch or place before or against; ob (see {Ob-}) + tendere to stretch.] 1. To oppose; to hold out in opposition. [Obs.] --Dryden. 2. To offer as the reason of anything; to pretend. [Obs.] --Dryden | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtend \Ob*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtending}.] [L. obtendere, obtentum, to stretch or place before or against; ob (see {Ob-}) + tendere to stretch.] 1. To oppose; to hold out in opposition. [Obs.] --Dryden. 2. To offer as the reason of anything; to pretend. [Obs.] --Dryden | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtend \Ob*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtending}.] [L. obtendere, obtentum, to stretch or place before or against; ob (see {Ob-}) + tendere to stretch.] 1. To oppose; to hold out in opposition. [Obs.] --Dryden. 2. To offer as the reason of anything; to pretend. [Obs.] --Dryden | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtenebration \Ob*ten`e*bra"tion\, n. [L. obtenebrate to make dark.] The act of darkening; the state of being darkened; darkness. [Obs.] In every megrim or vertigo, there is an obtenebration joined with a semblance of turning round. --Bacon. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtension \Ob*ten"sion\, n. [L. obtentio. See {Obtend}.] The act of obtending. [Obs.] --Johnson. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtund \Ob*tund"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtunded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtunding}.] [L. obtundere, obtusum; ob (see {Ob-}) + tundere to strike or beat. See {Stutter}.] To reduce the edge, pungency, or violent action of; to dull; to blunt; to deaden; to quell; as, to obtund the acrimony of the gall. [Archaic] --Harvey. They . . . have filled all our law books with the obtunding story of their suits and trials. --Milton. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtund \Ob*tund"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtunded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtunding}.] [L. obtundere, obtusum; ob (see {Ob-}) + tundere to strike or beat. See {Stutter}.] To reduce the edge, pungency, or violent action of; to dull; to blunt; to deaden; to quell; as, to obtund the acrimony of the gall. [Archaic] --Harvey. They . . . have filled all our law books with the obtunding story of their suits and trials. --Milton. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtundent \Ob*tund"ent\, n. [L. obtundens, p. pr. of obtundere.] (Med.) A substance which sheathes a part, or blunts irritation, usually some bland, oily, or mucilaginous matter; -- nearly the same as demulcent. --Forsyth. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtunder \Ob*tund"er\, n. (Med.) That which obtunds or blunts; especially, that which blunts sensibility. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obtund \Ob*tund"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtunded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obtunding}.] [L. obtundere, obtusum; ob (see {Ob-}) + tundere to strike or beat. See {Stutter}.] To reduce the edge, pungency, or violent action of; to dull; to blunt; to deaden; to quell; as, to obtund the acrimony of the gall. [Archaic] --Harvey. They . . . have filled all our law books with the obtunding story of their suits and trials. --Milton. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obviate \Ob"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obviated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Obviating}.] [L. obviare; ob (see {Ob-}) + viare to go, fr. via way. See {Voyage}.] 1. To meet in the way. [Obs.] Not to stir a step to obviate any of a different religion. --Fuller. 2. To anticipate; to prevent by interception; to remove from the way or path; to make unnecessary; as, to obviate the necessity of going. To lay down everything in its full light, so as to obviate all exceptions. --Woodward. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Obviation \Ob`vi*a"tion\, n. The act of obviating, or the state of being obviated. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
, to laugh secretly, or so as not to be observed, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at. {To laugh out}, to laugh in spite of some restraining influence; to laugh aloud. {To laugh out of the other corner} ([or] {side}) {of the mouth}, to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation. [Slang] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Often \Of`ten\, adv. [Compar. {Oftener}; superl. {Oftenest}.] [Formerly also ofte, fr. oft. See {Oft}., adv.] Frequently; many times; not seldom. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Often \Of"ten\, a. Frequent; common; repeated. [R.] [bd]Thine often infirmities.[b8] --1 Tim. v. 23. And weary thee with often welcomes. --Beau. & Fl. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Often \Of`ten\, adv. [Compar. {Oftener}; superl. {Oftenest}.] [Formerly also ofte, fr. oft. See {Oft}., adv.] Frequently; many times; not seldom. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Often \Of`ten\, adv. [Compar. {Oftener}; superl. {Oftenest}.] [Formerly also ofte, fr. oft. See {Oft}., adv.] Frequently; many times; not seldom. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Oftenness \Of"ten*ness\, n. Frequency. --Hooker. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Oftensith \Of"ten*sith\, adv. [Often + sith time.] Frequently; often. [Obs.] For whom I sighed have so oftensith. --Gascoigne. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Oftentide \Of"ten*tide"\, adv. [Often + tide time.] Frequently; often. [Obs.] --Robert of Brunne. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Oftentimes \Of"ten*times`\, adv. [Often + time. Cf. {-wards}.] Frequently; often; many times. --Wordsworth. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Ofttimes \Oft"times`\, adv. [Oft + time. Cf. {-wards}.] Frequently; often. --Milton. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Ophidian \O*phid"i*an\, n. [Cf. F. ophidien.] (Zo[94]l.) One of the Ophidia; a snake or serpent. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Ophidian \O*phid"i*an\, a. [Cf. F. ophidien.] (Zo[94]l.) Of or pertaining to the Ophidia; belonging to serpents. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
d8Ophidion \[d8]O*phid"i*on\, n.; pl. {Ophidia}. [L., fr. Gr. [?] little snake, fr. 'o`fis a serpent.] (Zo[94]l.) The typical genus of ophidioid fishes. [Written also {Ophidium}.] See Illust. under {Ophidioid}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Buffalo \Buf"fa*lo\, n.; pl. {Buffaloes}. [Sp. bufalo (cf. It. bufalo, F. buffle), fr. L. bubalus, bufalus, a kind of African stag or gazelle; also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr. Gr. [?] buffalo, prob. fr. [?] ox. See {Cow} the animal, and cf. {Buff} the color, and {Bubale}.] 1. (Zo[94]l.) A species of the genus {Bos} or {Bubalus} ({B. bubalus}), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of marshy places and rivers. 2. (Zo[94]l.) A very large and savage species of the same genus ({B. Caffer}) found in South Africa; -- called also {Cape buffalo}. 3. (Zo[94]l.) Any species of wild ox. 4. (Zo[94]l.) The bison of North America. 5. A buffalo robe. See {Buffalo robe}, below. 6. (Zo[94]l.) The buffalo fish. See {Buffalo fish}, below. {Buffalo berry} (Bot.), a shrub of the Upper Missouri ({Sherherdia argentea}) with acid edible red berries. {Buffalo bird} (Zo[94]l.), an African bird of the genus {Buphaga}, of two species. These birds perch upon buffaloes and cattle, in search of parasites. {Buffalo bug}, the carpet beetle. See under {Carpet}. {Buffalo chips}, dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for fuel. [U.S.] {Buffalo clover} (Bot.), a kind of clover ({Trifolium reflexum} and {T.soloniferum}) found in the ancient grazing grounds of the American bison. {Buffalo cod} (Zo[94]l.), a large, edible, marine fish ({Ophiodon elongatus}) of the northern Pacific coast; -- called also {blue cod}, and {cultus cod}. {Buffalo fish} (Zo[94]l.), one of several large fresh-water fishes of the family {Catostomid[91]}, of the Mississippi valley. The red-mouthed or brown ({Ictiobus bubalus}), the big-mouthed or black ({Bubalichthys urus}), and the small-mouthed ({B. altus}), are among the more important species used as food. {Buffalo fly}, [or] {Buffalo gnat} (Zo[94]l.), a small dipterous insect of the genus {Simulium}, allied to the black fly of the North. It is often extremely abundant in the lower part of the Mississippi valley and does great injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a species with similar habits. {Buffalo grass} (Bot.), a species of short, sweet grass ({Buchlo[89] dactyloides}), from two to four inches high, covering the prairies on which the buffaloes, or bisons, feed. [U.S.] {Buffalo nut} (Bot.), the oily and drupelike fruit of an American shrub ({Pyrularia oleifera}); also, the shrub itself; oilnut. {Buffalo robe}, the skin of the bison of North America, prepared with the hair on; -- much used as a lap robe in sleighs. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Oppidan \Op"pi*dan\, a. [L. oppidanus, fr. oppidum town.] Of or pertaining to a town. --Howell. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Oppidan \Op"pi*dan\, n. 1. An inhabitant of a town. 2. A student of Eton College, England, who is not a King's scholar, and who boards in a private family. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optimacy \Op"ti*ma*cy\, n. [Cf. F. optimatie. See {Optimate}.] 1. Government by the nobility. [R.] --Howell. 2. Collectively, the nobility. [R.] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optimate \Op"ti*mate\, a. [L. optimas, -atis, adj., optimates, n. pl., the adherents of the best men, the aristocrats, fr. optimus the best.] Of or pertaining to the nobility or aristocracy. [R.] -- n. A nobleman or aristocrat; a chief man in a state or city. [R.] --Chapman. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optime \Op"ti*me\, n. [L., adv. fr. optimus the best.] One of those who stand in the second rank of honors, immediately after the wranglers, in the University of Cambridge, England. They are divided into senior and junior optimes. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optimism \Op"ti*mism\, n. [L. optimus the best; akin to optio choice: cf. F. optimisme. See {Option}.] 1. (Metaph.) The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature, being the work of God, is ordered for the best, or that the ordering of things in the universe is such as to produce the highest good. 2. A disposition to take the most hopeful view; -- opposed to {pessimism}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optimist \Op"ti*mist\, n. [Cf. F. optimiste.] 1. (Metaph.) One who holds the opinion that all events are ordered for the best. 2. One who looks on the bright side of things, or takes hopeful views; -- opposed to {pessimist}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optimistic \Op`ti*mis"tic\, a. 1. (Metaph.) Of or pertaining to optimism; tending, or conforming, to the opinion that all events are ordered for the best. 2. Hopeful; sanguine; as, an optimistic view. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optimity \Op*tim"i*ty\, n. [L. optimitas, fr. optimus the best.] The state of being best. [R.] --Bailey. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Option \Op"tion\, n. [L. optio; akin to optare to choose, wish, optimus best, and perh. to E. apt: cf. F. option.] 1. The power of choosing; the right of choice or election; an alternative. There is an option left to the United States of America, whether they will be respectable and prosperous, or contemptible and miserable, as a nation. --Washington. 2. The exercise of the power of choice; choice. Transplantation must proceed from the option of the people, else it sounds like an exile. --Bacon. 3. A wishing; a wish. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall. 4. (Ch. of Eng.) A right formerly belonging to an archbishop to select any one dignity or benefice in the gift of a suffragan bishop consecrated or confirmed by him, for bestowal by himself when next vacant; -- annulled by Parliament in 1845. 5. (Stock Exchange) A stipulated privilege, given to a party in a time contract, of demanding its fulfillment on any day within a specified limit. {Buyer's option}, an option allowed to one who contracts to buy stocks at a certain future date and at a certain price, to demand the delivery of the stock (giving one day's notice) at any previous time at the market price. {Seller's option}, an option allowed to one who contracts to deliver stock art a certain price on a certain future date, to deliver it (giving one day's notice) at any previous time at the market price. Such options are privileges for which a consideration is paid. {Local option}. See under {Local}. Syn: Choice; preference; selection. Usage: {Option}, {Choice}. Choice is an act of choosing; option often means liberty to choose, and implies freedom from constraint in the act of choosing. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optional \Op"tion*al\, a. Involving an option; depending on the exercise of an option; left to one's discretion or choice; not compulsory; as, optional studies; it is optional with you to go or stay. -- n. See {Elective}, n. If to the former the movement was not optional, it was the same that the latter chose when it was optional. --Palfrey. Original writs are either optional or peremptory. --Blackstone. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optionally \Op"tion*al*ly\, adv. In an optional manner. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optometer \Op*tom"e*ter\, n. [Optic + -meter.] (Physiol.) An instrument for measuring the distance of distinct vision, mainly for the selection of eveglasses. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optometrist \Op*tom"e*trist\, n. One who is skilled in or practices optometry. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Optometry \Op*tom"e*try\, n. 1. (Med.) Measurement of the range of vision, esp. by means of the optometer. 2. As defined (with minor variations) in the statutes of various States of the United States: (a) [bd]The employment of subjective and objective mechanical means to determine the accomodative and refractive states of the eye and the scope of its function in general.[b8] (b) [bd]The employment of any means, other than the use of drugs, for the measurement of the powers of vision and adaptation of lenses for the aid thereof.[b8] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Ovation \O*va"tion\, n. [L. ovatio, fr. ovare to exult, rejoice, triumph in an ovation; cf. Gr. [?] to shout: cf. F. ovation.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A lesser kind of triumph allowed to a commander for an easy, bloodless victory, or a victory over slaves. 2. Hence: An expression of popular homage; the tribute of the multitude to a public favorite. To rain an April of ovation round Their statues. --Tennyson. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Ovidian \O*vid"i*an\, a. Of or pertaining to the Latin poet Ovid; resembling the style of Ovid. | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Optima, OK (town, FIPS 55850) Location: 36.75834 N, 101.35402 W Population (1990): 92 (47 housing units) Area: 0.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 73945 | |
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]: | |
optimism n. What a programmer is full of after fixing the last bug and before discovering the _next_ last bug. Fred Brooks's book "The Mythical Man-Month" (See "Brooks's Law") contains the following paragraph that describes this extremely well: All programmers are optimists. Perhaps this modern sorcery especially attracts those who believe in happy endings and fairy godmothers. Perhaps the hundreds of nitty frustrations drive away all but those who habitually focus on the end goal. Perhaps it is merely that computers are young, programmers are younger, and the young are always optimists. But however the selection process works, the result is indisputable: "This time it will surely run," or "I just found the last bug.". See also {Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology}. | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
optimal 1. minimises some {cost function}. {Linear programming} is one technique used to discover the optimal solution to certain problems. 2. space or code size. (1995-10-05) | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
optimise To perform {optimisation}. | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
optimising compiler code it produces and to produce more efficient code by performing {program transformation} such as {branch elimination}, {partial evaluation}, or {peep-hole optimisation}. Contrast {pessimising compiler}. (1995-02-01) | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
optimism What a programmer is full of after fixing the last bug and just before actually discovering the *next* last bug. Fred Brooks's book "{The Mythical Man-Month}" contains the following paragraph that describes this extremely well. All programmers are optimists. Perhaps this modern sorcery especially attracts those who believe in happy endings and fairy god-mothers. Perhaps the hundreds of nitty frustrations drive away all but those who habitually focus on the end goal. Perhaps it is merely that computers are young, programmers are younger, and the young are always optimists. But however the selection process works, the result is indisputable: "This time it will surely run," or "I just found the last bug.". See also {Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology}. [{Jargon File}] | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
optimize {optimisation} | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
option {command line option} |