or

or

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Pronunciation

or: /ɔːr/ (Received Pronunciation) or /ɔr/ (General American)

• /ɔː/ or /ɔ/: The vowel sound, as in "saw" or "core."

• /r/: The "r" sound, as in "red" or "run."

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Word Form Variations

The word "or" primarily functions as a conjunction and does not have typical word form variations like singular/plural, different tenses, or comparative/superlative forms. It is a fundamental grammatical connector.

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Conjunction

1. Definition: Used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives.

• Synonyms: alternatively, either...or, as an alternative

• Antonyms: and (in some contexts, implying both rather than a choice)

2. Definition: Used to introduce a rephrasing or an explanation of something just stated; in other words.

• Synonyms: in other words, otherwise known as, that is to say

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this usage clarifies rather than contrasts)

3. Definition: Used to connect two items where the second is a correction or an improvement of the first.

• Synonyms: rather, instead

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this usage refines the previous statement)

4. Definition: Used to express a negative condition; otherwise; if not.

• Synonyms: otherwise, else

• Antonyms: and (in contexts where "and" would imply a positive consequence)

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Examples of Use

• Books:

• "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859)

• "Are you a wolf or a sheep?" (Mikhail Lermontov, A Hero of Our Time, 1840)

• Newspapers:

• "The government must decide whether to invest in renewable energy sources or continue relying on fossil fuels." (The New York Times)

• "Residents are urged to stay indoors or seek shelter during the severe weather warning." (The Standard)

• Online Publications:

• "When choosing a password, opt for a strong combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, or use a reliable password manager." (TechCrunch)

• "Is sustainable fashion a niche trend or the future of the industry?" (Vogue Business)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film Dialogue: "Do or do not. There is no try." (Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, 1980)

• Song Lyrics: "You say yes, I say no. You say stop, and I say go, go, go. Oh no! You say goodbye, and I say hello, hello, hello. I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello." (The Beatles, "Hello, Goodbye," 1967)

• Video Game Instruction: "Press 'A' to attack or 'B' to defend." (Found in many action-adventure games, e.g., Elden Ring, 2022)

• Streaming Service Description: "A young woman must choose between her family's expectations or her own dreams." (Synopsis for a drama series, e.g., Bridgerton, 2020)

• General Public Discourse:

• "Would you like still or sparkling water?" (Common in restaurants)

• "We can meet at 2 PM or 3 PM, whichever works best for you." (Informal scheduling)

• "It's either a brilliant idea or a complete disaster." (Expressing uncertainty or a stark choice)

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10 Quotes Using Or

1. "To be, or not to be, that is the question." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)

2. "Give me liberty, or give me death!" (Patrick Henry)

3. "Do or do not. There is no try." (Yoda, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back)

4. "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." (Benjamin Franklin)

5. "Lead, follow, or get out of the way." (Laurence J. Peter)

6. "Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make: Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."(George W. Bush)

7. "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." (Attributed to Abraham Lincoln or Mark Twain)

8. "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." (Benjamin Franklin)

9. "In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all." (Mahatma Gandhi)

10. "Look before, or you'll find yourself behind." (Benjamin Franklin)

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Etymology

The word "or" has a fascinating history, and its journey through English is a bit like two different streams coming together.

Imagine Old English, a very long time ago. They had a word, "oþþe," which meant "either" or "or." This was a straightforward way to show a choice. Think of it like saying "coffee oþþe tea."

But there was another word also floating around in Old English: "āhwæþer" (which eventually gave us "either"). Sometimes, people would use "āþor" or "āwþer" which were shorter versions of "āhwæþer."

As English evolved into Middle English (around the 1100s to 1500s), these two paths started to blend. The word "oþþe" began to change, and it sometimes picked up an "-r" ending, perhaps influenced by words like "other" or "whether" which also dealt with choices.

At the same same time, the shorter forms of "āhwæþer" (like "other" or "auther") were also being used to mean "or."

So, "or" as we know it today is a shortened version that comes from both these Old English roots. It's like a combination of the old "oþþe" and the shorter versions of "either."

The first known use of "or" as a standalone conjunction, meaning "either, else, or as an alternative," appeared in Middle English, specifically around 1175. One of the earliest recorded instances is in a text called the Ormulum. At this point, it was already functioning to present alternatives, much as it does today.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Or

• Sooner or later: Eventually; at some unspecified future time.

• More or less: Approximately; to some extent.

• Now or never: This is the only chance to do something.

• All or nothing: A situation in which everything is either gained or lost.

• Sink or swim: To succeed or fail entirely by one's own efforts.

• Do or die: A situation in which one must succeed or face terrible consequences.

• Make or break: A crucial event or period that will lead to either success or failure.

• Or else: Used to indicate a negative consequence if something is not done.

• Right or wrong: Regardless of whether it is morally correct.

• Hit or miss: Sometimes successful and sometimes not; unpredictable.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of or from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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