| ousel | <zoology> One of several species of European thrushes, especially the blackbird (Merula merula, or Turdus merula), and the mountain or ring ousel (Turdus torquatus). <zoology> Alternative forms: ouzel] Rock ousel, the European dipper (Cinclus aquaticus), and the American dipper (C. Mexicanus). Origin: OE. Osel, AS. Sle; akin to G. Amsel, OHG. Amsala, and perh. To L. Merula blackbird. Cf. Merle, Amsel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| oust | 1. To take away; to remove. "Multiplication of actions upon the case were rare, formerly, and thereby wager of law ousted." (Sir M. Hale) 2. To eject; to turn out. "From mine own earldom foully ousted me." (Tennyson) Origin: OF. Oster, F. Oter, prob. Fr. L. Obstare to oppose, hence, to forbid, take away. See Obstacle, and cf. Ouster. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ouster | A putting out of possession; dispossession; ejection; disseizin. "Ouster of the freehold is effected by abatement, intrusion, disseizin, discontinuance, or deforcement." (Blackstone) Ouster le main. [Ouster + F. La main the hand, L. Manus. A delivery of lands out of the hands of a guardian, or out of the king's hands, or a judgement given for that purpose. Origin: Prob. Fr. The OF. Infin. Oster, used substantively. See Oust. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| -ous | 1. <suffix> An adjective suffix meaning full of, abounding in, having, possessing the qualities of, like; as in gracious, abounding in grace; arduous, full of ardor; bulbous, having bulbs, bulblike; riotous, poisonous, piteous, joyous, etc. 2. <chemistry> A suffix denoting that the element indicated by the name bearing it, has a valence lower than that denoted by the termination -ic; as, nitrous, sulphurous, etc, as contrasted with nitric, sulphuric, etc. Origin: OF. -ous, us, -os, F. -eux, fr. L. -osus, and -us. Cf. -ose. (29 Oct 1998) |
|---|