Tuesday, November 09, 2010

WORD of the day

oscitant \OS-i-tuhnt\, adjective:

1. Yawning, as with drowsiness; gaping.
2. Drowsy or inattentive.
3. Dull, lazy, or negligent.
The sauntering, supine, and oscitant gentleman, by his birth and great possessions, exempt from labor and exercise, therefore is entitled to diseases.
-- Anonymous, Gentleman's magazine and monthly American review, Volume 5
In the suite, I asked Miss Stone what was the worst question that reporters would ask her. She gave me an oscitant gaze and said, "They ask me how I got my break."
-- Chris Curtis, The Turning Point

Oscitant derives from the Latin oscitare, "to gape or yawn."

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