-or \-or\ [L. -or: cf. OF. -or, -ur, -our, F. -eur.]
1. A noun suffix denoting an act; a state or quality; as in
error, fervor, pallor, candor, etc.
2. A noun suffix denoting an agent or doer; as in auditor,
one who hears; donor, one who gives; obligor, elevator. It
is correlative to -ee. In general -or is appended to words
of Latin, and -er to those of English, origin. See -er.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Or \Or\, conj. [OE. or, outher, other, auther, either, or, AS.
[=a]w?er, contr. from [=a]hw[ae]?er; [=a] aye + hw[ae]?er
whether. See Aye, and Whether, and cf. Either.]
A particle that marks an alternative; as, you may read or may
write, -- that is, you may do one of the things at your
pleasure, but not both. It corresponds to either. You may
ride either to London or to Windsor. It often connects a
series of words or propositions, presenting a choice of
either; as, he may study law, or medicine, or divinity, or he
may enter into trade.
If man's convenience, health, Or safety interfere, his
rights and claims Are paramount. --Cowper.
Note: Or may be used to join as alternatives terms expressing
unlike things or ideas (as, is the orange sour or
sweet?), or different terms expressing the same thing
or idea; as, this is a sphere, or globe.
Note: Or sometimes begins a sentence. In this case it
expresses an alternative or subjoins a clause differing
from the foregoing. ``Or what man is there of you, who,
if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a
stone?'' --Matt. vii. 9 (Rev. Ver. ). Or for either is
archaic or poetic.
Maugre thine heed, thou must for indigence Or
steal, or beg, or borrow thy dispence. --Chaucer.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Or \Or\, prep. & adv. [AS. ?r ere, before. [root]204. See Ere,
prep. & adv.]
Ere; before; sooner than. [Obs.]
But natheless, while I have time and space, Or that I
forther in this tale pace. --Chaucer.
Or ever, Or ere. See under Ever, and Ere.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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