om (om)

[Skt. om; origin uncertain.] A combination of letters invested with peculiar sanctity both in the Hindu religions and in Buddhism. It first appears as an exclamation of solemn a ent. Afterward it formed the auspicious word with which the Brahmans had to begin and end every sacred representing the names of the Hindu trinity. as a symbol -oma. [NL., etc., -oma, The Omadawn ! - to think of his taking in a poor soft boy like that, who was away from his mother. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall , Ireland, I. 263. In the course of his [Mr. Michael Davitt's] remarks he spoke of the Peers as "the noble omadhauns ." N. and Q., 6th ser., X. 406. omalo-. For words in zoölogy, etc., beginning thus, see homalo- . omander-wood (ō-man'der-wüd), n. A variety of ebony or calamander-wood, obtained in Ceylon from Diospyros Ebenum. Omanidæ (ō-man'i-dē), n. pl. [NL. (Thorell, 1831).] A genus of Alcidæ or auks containing the parrakeet-auklets, characterized by the peculiar shape of the bill. The mandible is falcate and upcurved, the commi ure is ascendant, and the maxilla oval in profile. The nostrils are naked, and portions of the bill are molted. O. psittacula is the only species. Also called Cyclorhynchus. See umbril . ombril (om'bril), n. ombrometer (om-brom'e-ter), n. [ hence, figuratively, the last of anything. Know I not Death? the outward signs?... The simple senses crown'd his head: "Omega! thou art Lord," they said, "We find no motion in the dead." Tennyson, Two Voices. Alpha and omega. See alpha, 2. omelet (om'e-let), n. [Formerly also omlet, ome F. ome lette, aumelette; aumelette; Caumelette d'œufs , ominously deduction of effect from the collation of causes. Presage and augury are generally favorable, portent and foreboding always unfavorable, the rest either favorable or unfavorable. Omen and augury are most suggestive of the ancient practice of consulting the gods through priests or augurs. A foreboding may be mistaken; the others are presumably correct. All these words have considerable freedom in figurative use. See foretell, v. t. omen (o'men), v. [ II. trans. To foresee or foretell, as by the aid of an omen; divine; predict. The yet unknown verdict, of which, however, all omened the tragical contents. Scott, Heart of Mid-Lothian, xxiv. omened (ō'mend), a. [ taining or accompanied by an omen or prognos- tic: chiefly in composition: as, ill-omened. Is this the welcome of my worthy deeds, To meet my triumph in ill omen'd weeds? Dryden, Pal. and Arc., i. 50. omening (o'men-ing), n . [Verbal n. of omen , v .] An augury; a prognostication. These evil omenings do but point out conclusions which are most likely to come to pa . Scott .