nystagmus

[Greek nystagmos =a winking, from nystazō -to nod, especially in sleep.] Pathol.: A morbid winking of the eyes, sometimes observable in highly nervous persons. THE fifteenth letter, and the fourth vowel of the English alphabet. The shape of the written letter was probably suggested by the circular formation of the lips in uttering the sound. O is called the labial vowel, i being the palatal vowel, and a the guttural. In English o has six distinct sounds or shades of sound: (1) The sound of o in not , as in pot (marked in this book 0). (2) The same sound lengthened by a following r, as in or ; and in the digraph ou , as in fought , sought (unmarked, 0). (3) The sound of o in go ; and in the digraphs oe , as in foe , toe ; oa , as in groan , moan , boat ; and ou in though (marked ō). This sound is modified by r following the vowel, as in more (marked ö). (4) The sound of o in who , move , tomb ; and in the digraphs oo , as in room , soon ; and ou , as in through , wound (marked ô). (5) The sound of u in bull or full , as in wolf , woman (marked 0). (6) The sound of u in tub , as in son , love , come ; and in the digraphs oe , as in does ; oo , as in blood ; ou , as in enough, tough (marked 8). The long o in modern English, as in go , represents an A. S. 4, as in bone A. S. bán, loaf =A. S. laf , stone =A. S. stán. O as a symbol is used : 1. As a numeral: *(1) Among the ancients for 11, and with a stroke over O for 11,000. (2) Now as the symbol of nothing, or a cipher. 2. In chemistry for the element oxygen. *3. In old music as the sign of temp us perfectum, or triple time; as the incomplete circle c was of temp us imperfectum . [TEMPUS.] O ( pl . ōeş), s. & interj . [From the letter.] A. As substantive: *1. Anything circular, or resembling the letter O; a circle, a sphere; a round spot. IMG:content-0174.png:[blocks in formation] [B.] "Why should you fall into so deep an O?" Shakesp.: Romeo and Juliet , iii. 8. 5. A cry to call attention, or to command a ce ation of noise, . B. As interj.: An exclamation used in earnest or solemn addre , entreaty, appeal, or invocation, and prefixed to the noun of addre . Attempts have been made to distinguish between O and Oh by some writers; namely, that O should be used only in direct addre to a person or personified object, and should never be followed by the exclamation point, while Oh should be used in mere exclamations, where no direct addre or appeal is made to the object, and may be followed by the exclamation point or not, according to the nature or construction of the sentence. This distinction is, however, merely arbitrary, and is not regarded by most writers, even the best, the two forms being generally used indiscriminately. " O , be not proud."- Shakesp .: Venus and Adonis , 113. ō-, pref . [Ir.o=a descendant; Gael.ogha; Scotch oe a grandson.] A common prefix in Irish sur. names, and meaning son of; equivalent to Mac in Gaelic, Fitz in Norman French, and the suffix-son in English surnames. **o** [OF.] A contracted form of of. *ō, a. [ΟΝΕ.] One. *oad, s. [WOAD.] pine, pit, sire, sir, marine; gō, pot, oaf