English Explanatory Dictionary

OSS

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Initialism of open-source software.
  2. Initialism of out-of-school suspension.
  3. Initialism of operations/operational support system.
  4. Initialism of over-the-shoulder shot.
name
  1. Initialism of Office of Strategic Services (a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II).
verb
  1. To set about, or intend be inclined to set about (doing something).
  2. To offer (to do something).
noun
  1. Alternative spelling of 'oss.
noun
  1. plural of OS
name
  1. A city and municipality of North Brabant, Netherlands.

Pronunciation

/ɒs/

Word forms

OSS OSSes OSS's OSSs

Etymology

Unclear. Middle English ōssen had a rather different meaning, "to reveal, to prophesy", but the OED suggests it could nonetheless be the same verb. The origin of the Middle English verb is itself obscure, but it may be a variant of halsen, from Old English hālsian, although this too had a rather different meaning, "to beseech, entreat; to exorcise; to imprecate".

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
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