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oscitant

[os-i-tuh nt]
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adjective
  1. yawning, as with drowsiness; gaping.
  2. drowsy or inattentive.
  3. dull, lazy, or negligent.
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Origin of oscitant

1615–25; < Latin ōscitant- (stem of ōscitāns) (present participle of ōscitāre to gape, yawn), equivalent to ōs mouth + cit(āre) to put in motion) + -ant- -ant
Related formsos·ci·tan·cy, os·ci·tance, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Word Origin and History for oscitant

adj.

"yawning," from Latin oscitans "listless, sluggish, lazy," present participle of oscitare "to gape, yawn," from os citare "to move the mouth" (see oral and cite).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper