O"ken*ite (?), n. [Prob. from Lorenz Oken, a German naturalist.] (Min.)
A massive and fibrous mineral of a whitish color, chiefly hydrous
silicate of lime.
O"ker (?), n. (Min.) See Ocher.
O"kra (?), n. (Bot.) An annual plant (Abelmoschus, or Hibiscus,
esculentus), whose green pods, abounding in nutritious mucilage, are
much used for soups, stews, or pickles; gumbo. [Written also ocra and
ochra.]
-ol (?). [From alcohol.] (Chem.) A suffix denoting that the substance
in the name of which it appears belongs to the series of alcohols or
hydroxyl derivatives, as carbinol, glycerol, etc.
<! p. 1000 !>
||O"lay (?), n. pl. [Tamil lai.] Palm leaves, prepared for being
||written upon with a style pointed with steel. [Written also ola.]
||Balfour (Cyc. of India).
Old (?), n. Open country. [Obs.] See World. Shak.
Old, a. [Compar. Older (?); superl. Oldest.] [OE. old, ald, AS. ald,
eald; akin to D. oud, OS. ald, OFries. ald, old, G. alt, Goth. alpeis,
and also to Goth. alan to grow up, Icel. ala to bear, produce, bring
up, L. alere to nourish. Cf. Adult, Alderman, Aliment, Auld, Elder.]
1. Not young; advanced far in years or life; having lived till toward
the end of the ordinary term of living; as, an old man; an old age; an
old horse; an old tree.
Let not old age disgrace my high desire.
Sir P. Sidney.
The melancholy news that we grow old.
Young.
2. Not new or fresh; not recently made or produced; having existed for
a long time; as, old wine; an old friendship. "An old acquaintance."
Camden.
3. Formerly existing; ancient; not modern; preceding; original; as, an
old law; an old custom; an old promise. "The old schools of Greece."
Milton. "The character of the old Ligurians." Addison.
4. Continued in life; advanced in the course of existence; having (a
certain) length of existence; -- designating the age of a person or
thing; as, an infant a few hours old; a cathedral centuries old.
And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?
Cen. xlvii. 8.
In this use old regularly follows the noun that designates the age; as,
she was eight years old.
5. Long practiced; hence, skilled; experienced; cunning; as, an old
offender; old in vice.
Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old.
Milton.
6. Long cultivated; as, an old farm; old land, as opposed to new land,
that is, to land lately cleared.
7. Worn out; weakened or exhausted by use; past usefulness; as, old
shoes; old clothes.