OLD HOUSE. A name given in the German universities to a student during his fifth term.
OPPONENCY. The opening of an academical disputation; the proposition of objections to a tenet; an exercise for a degree.—Todd.
Mr. Webster remarks, "I believe not used in America."
In the old times, the university discharged this duty [teaching] by means of the public readings or lectures,… and by the keeping of acts and opponencies—being certain vivâ voce disputations —by the students.—The English Universities and their Reforms, in Blackwood's Magazine, Feb. 1849.
OPPONENT. In universities and colleges, where disputations are carried on, the opponent is, in technical application, the person who begins the dispute by raising objections to some tenet or doctrine.
OPTIME. The title of those who stand in the second and third ranks
of honors, immediately after the Wranglers, in the University of
Cambridge, Eng. They are called respectively Senior and Junior
Optimes.
See JUNIOR OPTIME, POLLOI, and SENIOR OPTIME.
OPTIONAL. At some American colleges, the student is obliged to pursue during a part of the course such studies as are prescribed. During another portion of the course, he is allowed to select from certain branches those which he desires to follow. The latter are called optional studies. In familiar conversation and writing, the word optional is used alone.
For optional will come our way,
And lectures furnish time to play,
'Neath elm-tree shade to smoke all day.
Songs, Biennial Jubilee, Yale Coll., 1855.
ORIGINAL COMPOSITION. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., an essay or theme written by a student in Latin, Greek, or Hebrew, is termed original composition.