15,000 words and phrases from more than 50 languages and their

o
obbligato [It], adj. lit., bound; indispensable; inseparably connected with
the composition; n. an instrumental part of more or less importance,
often used as an accompaniment to a vocal solo; as, a violin obbligato:
music.
obi [Jap], lit., a belt; Japanese sash worn with a kimono by women and
children.
obiit [L], he (or she) died: abbr. ob. —obiit sine prole, he (or she) died
without issue: abbr. ob.s.p.
obiter [L], by the way; in passing; incidentally. —obiter dictum [pi.
obiter dicta], an unofficial expression of opinion; a thing said by the
way; incidental remark. —obiter scriptum [pi. obiter scripta], something
written by the way; an incidental composition.
objet d'art [Fr; pi. objets d'art], an object of artistic value.
objets d'occasion [Fr], secondhand things.
oblast [Russ], province or district; in Soviet Russia, a regional soviet.
obra de común, obra de ningún [Sp], everybody's work is nobody's
work; everybody's business is nobody's business.
obrigado [Pg], thank you; thanks.
obscuris vera involvens [L], shrouding truth in darkness (or in obscure
terms): Virgil.
obscurum per obscurius [L], (explaining) an obscurity by something
more obscure.
observandum [L; pi. observanda], a thing to be observed.
obsta principiis [L], resist the beginnings: preferably principiis obsta.
obstupui, steteruntque comae, et vox faucibus haesit [L], I was astounded,
my hair stood on end, and my voice stuck in my throat:
Virgil.
occasio furem facit [L], opportunity makes the thief.
occasionem cognosce [L], know your opportunity.
occupet extremum scabies [L], plague take the hindmost: Horace.
occurrent nubes [L], clouds will intervene.
octroi [Fr], grant; concession; toll; duty, esp. on commodities entering
a town.
odalisque [Fr, fr. Turk ödahliq, chambermaid], a female slave or concubine,
esp. in the Sultan's seraglio during the old régime.
O dea certe! [L], O thou, who art a goddess surely!: Virgil.
Odelsting [Norw], lower house of the Norwegian legislature.
oderint dum metuant [L], let them hate, so long as they fear: Cicero.
O dignitosa coscienza e netta, come t'è picciol fallo amaro morso!
[It], "O clear conscience, and upright! How doth a little failing wound
thee sore": Dante (tr. by Cary).
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