oscitance
ɪ adjective
1.
yawning, as with drowsiness; gaping.
2.
drowsy or inattentive.
3.
dull, lazy, or negligent.
Origin:
1615–25; < Latin ōscitant- (stem of ōscitāns) (present participle of ōscitāre to gape, yawn), equivalent to ōs mouth + cit(āre) to put in motion) + -ant- -ant
1615–25; < Latin ōscitant- (stem of ōscitāns) (present participle of ōscitāre to gape, yawn), equivalent to ōs mouth + cit(āre) to put in motion) + -ant- -ant
Related forms
os·ci·tan·cy, os·ci·tance, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To oscitance
00:10
Oscitance
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
oscitancy or oscitance (ˈɒsɪtənsɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -tancies, -tances | |
| 1. | the state of being drowsy, lazy, or inattentive |
| 2. | the act of yawning |
| [C17: from Latin oscitāre to gape, yawn] | |
| oscitance or oscitance | |
| —n | |
| [C17: from Latin oscitāre to gape, yawn] | |
| 'oscitant or oscitance | |
| —adj | |
| oscitancy or oscitance (ˈɒsɪtənsɪ) | |
| —n , pl -tancies, -tances | |
| 1. | the state of being drowsy, lazy, or inattentive |
| 2. | the act of yawning |
| [C17: from Latin oscitāre to gape, yawn] | |
| oscitance or oscitance | |
| —n | |
| [C17: from Latin oscitāre to gape, yawn] | |
| 'oscitant or oscitance | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
