Definition of -OR (original) (raw)
1
—used as a function word to indicate an alternative
coffee or tea
sink or swim
, the equivalent or substitutive character of two words or phrases
lessen or abate
, or approximation or uncertainty
in five or six days
4
—used in logic as a sentential connective that forms a complex sentence which is true when at least one of its constituent sentences is true compare disjunction
: the heraldic color gold or yellow
: a logical operator that requires at least one of two inputs to be present or conditions to be met for an output to be made or a statement to be executed
2
operational research; operations research
: one that does a (specified) thing
Word History
Etymology
Conjunction (1) and Noun (2)
Middle English, alteration of other, alteration of Old English oththe; akin to Old High German eddo or
Preposition
Middle English, from or, adverb, early, before, from Old Norse ār; akin to Old English ǣr early — more at ere
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French, gold, from Latin aurum — more at aureus
Noun suffix (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French -ur, -our, -eour & Latin -or; Anglo-French -ur, -our, from Latin -or; Anglo-French -eour, from Latin -ator, from -a-, verb stem + -tor, agent suffix; akin to Greek -tōr, agent suffix, Sanskrit -tā
Noun suffix (2)
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin
First Known Use
Conjunction (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Preposition
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Conjunction (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1947, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of or was in the 13th century
Dictionary Entries Near or
Cite this Entry
“Or.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/or. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
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