oscitant

[os-i-tuhnt]

adjective

1. yawning, as with drowsiness; gaping.

2. drowsy or inattentive.

3. dull, lazy, or negligent.

Other Word Forms

• oscitancy noun
• oscitance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oscitant¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin ōscitant- (stem of ōscitāns, present participle of ōscitāre “to gape, yawn (used of animals), be listless”), equivalent to ōs “mouth” + cit(āre) “to put in motion” + -ant- -ant

Example Sentences

Associated word: skein. yawn, v. gape, oscitate. yawn, n. gape, gaping, yawning, oscitation, oscitancy. yawning, a. gaping, oscitant. yearbook, n. annual. yearly, a. annual, anniversary.--adv. annually. yearn, v. long, desire, hanker after, pine. yearning, n. longing, hankering, pining. yeast, n. harm, leaven, ferment. yeasty, a. barmy. yell, n. outcry, scream, shriek, howl, yowl, vociferation. yell, v. scream, shriek, screech, bawl, howl, yowl, vociferate, hoot. yellow, a. golden, sallow, tawny, ecru, amber, fallow, fulvous, croconic, jaundiced, fulvid, buff, luteous, saffron, ocherous, lurid. yellowbird, n. goldfinch. yellow race.

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Adj. open; perforated &c. v.; perforate; wide open, ajar, unclosed, unstopped; oscitant†, gaping, yawning; patent. tubular, cannular†, fistulous; pervious, permeable; foraminous†; vesicular, vasicular†; porous, follicular, cribriform†, honeycombed, infundibular†, riddled; tubulous†, tubulated†; piped, tubate†. opening &c. v.; aperient†.

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