Optimism, op′ti-mizm, n. the doctrine that everything is ordered for the best: a disposition to take a hopeful view of things—opp. to Pessimism.—v.i. Op′timise, to take the most hopeful view of anything.—n. Op′timist, one who holds that everything is ordered for the best.—adj. Optimist′ic.—adv. Optimist′ically.—n. Op′timum (bot.), that point of temperature at which metabolic—i.e. vegetative and fructificative processes are best carried on. [L. optimus, best.]
Option, op′shun, n. act of choosing: power of choosing or wishing: wish.—adj. Op′tional, left to one's option or choice.—adv. Op′tionally.—n. Op′tions, a mode of speculating, chiefly in stocks and shares, which is intended to limit the speculator's risk. It consists in paying a sum down for the right to put (make delivery) or call (call for delivery) a given amount of stock at a fixed future date, the price also being fixed at the time the contract is entered into.—Local option (see Local). [L. optio, optionis—optāre, to choose.]
Optometer, Optometry. See Optic.
Opulent, op′ū-lent, adj. wealthy.—n. Op′ulence, means: riches: wealth.—adv. Op′ulently. [Fr.,—L. op-ulentus.]
Opuntia, ō-pun′shi-a, n. a genus of cacti.
Opus, ō′pus, n. work, a work.—Opus magnum, the great work of one's life; Opus operantis (theol.), the effect of a sacrament ascribed chiefly, if not exclusively, to the spiritual disposition of the recipient, the grace flowing ex opere operantis—the Protestant view; Opus operatum, the due celebration of a sacrament necessarily involving the grace of the sacrament, which flows ex opere operato from the sacramental act performed independent of the merit of him who administers it—the R.C. view.
Opuscule, ō-pus′kūl, n. a little work.—Also Opus′cle, Opus′culum. [L. opusculum, dim. of opus, work.]
Or, or, adv. ere, before. [Ere.]
Or, or, conj. marking an alternative, and sometimes opposition [short for other, modern Eng. either].—prep. (B.) before. [In this sense a corr. of ere.]
Or, or, n. (her.) gold. [Fr.,—L. aurum, gold.]