Or what


question

Or is it not? what else can it be?: Was that exciting, or what?/ Is this the old trickle-down theory or what? (1990s+)
A phrase following a statement that adds emphasis or suggests an option. For example, in Is this a good movie or what? the phrase asks for confirmation or agreement. However, it also may ask for an alternative, as in Is this book a biography or what? In the 1700s it generally asked for a choice among a series of options, and it still has this function, as in In what does John excel? in imagination? in reasoning powers? in mathematics? or what?

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  • Or whatever

    Whatnot, or any other thing that might be mentioned, as in They’ve stocked wine, beer, soda, or whatever, or You can stay or leave, or whatever. [ Early 1900s ]

  • Ory

    1. an adjective-forming suffix, joined to bases of Latin origin in imitation of borrowed Latin words containing the suffix -tory1, (and its alternant -sory): excretory; sensory; statutory . 1. a suffix forming nouns denoting places or receptacles, joined to bases of Latin origin in imitation of borrowed Latin words containing the suffix -tory2, (or its […]

  • Oryoki

    noun a formal method of Japanese eating in which the sequence of the items used, food eaten, and actions performed are carefully done by ritual; also, the set of bowls, utensils, and napkin wrapping used in this form of Japanese eating Examples Silence is maintained during oryoki except for the chanting of certain meal sutras. […]

  • Oryol

    /Russian aˈrjɔl/ noun 1. a variant spelling of Orel

  • Orzo

    [awr-zoh] /ˈɔr zoʊ/ noun 1. pasta in the form of small ricelike grains.


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