or

or¹

/awr/; unstressed /euhr/, conj.

1. (used to connect words, phrases, or clauses representing alternatives): books or magazines; to be or not to be.

2. (used to connect alternative terms for the same thing): the Hawaiian, or Sandwich, Islands.

3. (used in correlation): either ... or; or ... or; whether ... or.

4. (used to correct or rephrase what was previously said): His autobiography, or rather memoirs, will soon be ready for publication.

5. otherwise; or else: Be here on time, or we'll leave without you.

6. Logic. the connective used in disjunction.

[1150-1200; ME, orig. the second, unstressed member of correlative other ... or, earlier other ... other, OE ather ... oththe, a-hwaether ... oththe, for oththe ... oththe either ... or; cf. AY¹, WHETHER]

Usage. See and/or, either.

or²

/awr/, prep., conj. Chiefly Irish, Scot., and Eng.

before; ere.

[bef. 950; ME, OE ar soon, early; c. ON ar, Goth air early; cf. OE aer soon, before, ERE]

or³

/awr/, Heraldry.

n.

1. the tincture, or metal, gold: represented either by gold or by yellow.

adj.

2. of the tincture, or metal, gold: a lion or.

[1400-50; late ME < MF < L aurum gold]

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