Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

OR

Definition: OR

OR

Noun

1. A state in northwestern United States on the Pacific.

2. A room in a hospital equipped for the performance of surgical operations; "great care is taken to keep the operating rooms aseptic".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "OR" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

Note: Or \Or\, preposition & adverb [Anglo-Saxon, before. See Ere, preposition & adverb.]. (references)

 

Specialty Definition: OR

DomainDefinition

Computing

OR The Boolean function which is true if any of its arguments are true. Its truth table is: A | B | A OR B --+---+--------- F | F | F F | T | T T | F | T T | T | T (1996-11-04). Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing.

Aerospace

1. The logical operator which has the property that A or B is true if either A is true or B is true.2. In Boolean algebra, the operation of union. (references)

Census

(Operations Research) The study of statistical methods, such as linear programming and simulation, in order to analyze and solve organizational problems. (references)

Math

Disjunction: 0 OR 0 = 0, 0 OR 1 = 1, 1 OR 0 = 1, 1 OR 1 = 1. (references)

Tips from 1870

Usage: Or, Nor. When the antecedent consists of two or more nouns separated by or, nor, as well as, or any other disjunctive, the pronoun must be singular.
"Neither spelling nor parsing receive the attention they once received." Verb and pronoun should be singular, receives and it.
Usage: Or, Nor, As well as, But, Save. When two or more nominatives in the singular are separated by such words as the preceding, the verb must be singular.
"Veracity, as well as justice, is to be our rule of life."-- Butler. "Not a weed nor a blade of grass were to be seen." Change were to was.
"Nothing but wailings were heard." Transpose. "Nothing was heard but wailings." The verb should be was.
"Either one or the other of them are in the wrong." The verb should be is.
If, however, one or more of the nominatives are plural, the verb must be plural.
"It is not his wealth, or gifts, or culture that gives him this distinction." Gifts being plural, the verb should be give.
Some authorities say that the verb should agree in number with the subject which is placed next before it, and be understood (or silent) to the rest; as, "Neither he nor his brothers were there," "Neither his brothers nor he was there," "Neither you nor I am concerned."
Prof. Genung, author of Outlines of Rhetoric, says: "When a clash of concord arises, either choose subjects that have the same number, or choose a verb that has the same form for both numbers." He gives this sentence to show the change of verb: "Fame or the emoluments of valor were (was) never to be his." "Fame or the emoluments of valor could never be his." And this sentence to show the change of one of the subjects: "Neither the halter nor bayonets are (is) sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights." "Neither the halter nor the bayonet is sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights." Source: Slips of Speech.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Specialty Definition: List of two-letter English words

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The English language contains various two-letter words. Here is a list of such words. Some of these words are debatable, because they are archaic, slang, or proper names.

English Words

English use in a foreign phrase

Several more of our two-letter words exist as parts of set phrases imported from other languages.

Abbreviations

Many two-letter words are abbreviations, or apocopations of longer words. They are frequently slang or informal words.

See also: List of all two-letter combinations

These sorts of lists are useful for some letter games, such as crossword puzzles or anagrams, or in word games, such as Scrabble.

Words acceptable in Scrabble

The following are lists of two letter words allowed in Scrabble (US, UK and International). See the Scrabble article for an explanation of the different wordlists and their applications.

OSPD - Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary (US)

OSW - Official Scrabble Words - Chambers (UK/Australia etc.)

SOWPODS/OSWI: a combination of OSPD and OSW used for International competition

Internal Links

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Logical disjunction

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

In logic and mathematics, a disjunction is an "or statement". For example "John skis or Sally swims" is a disjunction.

Note that in everyday language, use of the word "or" can sometimes mean "either, but not both" (eg, "would you like tea or coffee?"). In logic, this is called an "exclusive disjunction or "exclusive or". When used formally, "or" allows for both parts of the or statement (its disjuncts) to be true ("and/or"), therefore "or" is also called inclusive disjunction.

The statement "P or Q" is often written as

P ∨ Q
Such a disjunction is false if both P and Q are false. In all other cases it is true.

For two inputs A and B, the truth table of the function is as follows. 

A B | A or B
----+--------
F F |    F
F T |    T
T F |    T
T T |    T
More generally a disjunction is a logical formula that can have one or more literals separated only by ORs. A single literal is often considered to be a degenerate disjunction.

For example, all the following are disjunctions:

A ∨ B
¬A ∨ B
A ∨ ¬B ∨ ¬C ∨ D ∨ ¬E

The equivalent notion in set theory is the set theoretic union.

See also

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Or

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Or is a two-letter English word with various meanings:

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Or."

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OR

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "OR."

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Oregon

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Oregon
(Detailed view of both sides) (Full size)
State nickname: Beaver State

Other U.S. States
Capital Salem
Largest City Portland
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
 - % water 		Ranked 9th
255,026 km²
248,849 km²
6,177 km²
2.4%
Population
 - Total (2000)
 - Density 		Ranked 28th
3,421,399
13.4/km²
Admittance into Union
 - Order
 - Date
33th
February 14, 1859
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Mountain: UTC-7/-6
All but majority of Malheur County in Pacific
Latitude
Longitude 		42°N to 46°15'N
116°45'W to 124°30'W
Width
Length
Elevation
  -Highest
  -Mean
  -Lowest 		420 km
580 km
 
3,426 meters
1,005 meters
0 meters
ISO 3166-2:US-OR

[T]his state of scenic grandeur and easygoing individualism is writing the preface to what may be the future for all Americans: simple living, conservation, and limited growth. -- A 1977 article in U.S. News and World Report on Oregon.
Oregon is a state located in the western United States bordering the Pacific Ocean, California, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada. Its northern border lies along the Columbia River and the east along the Snake River. Two north-south mountain ranges - the Coastal Range and the Cascade Mountain Range - form the two boundaries of the Willamette Valley, one of the most fertile and agriculturally productive regions in the world. Oregon is known for its rain, but only the western half of the state is notably rainy; east of the Cascades the climate is much more arid.

Oregonians are proud of their state's wealth of beautiful forests and streams, and place great importance on proper use of their environment, yet struggle to balance this need with the desire to achieve progress. The state has pioneered many of the nation's environmental firsts, such as one of the first bottle bills, but has also suffered under the rapid pace of logging its forests.

History

Oregon was originally home to a number of Native American tribes, including the Bannock, Chinook, Klamath, and Nez Perce. James Cook explored the coast in 1778 in search of the Northwest Passage. The Lewis and Clark Expedition travelled through the region during their expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase, at the direction of Thomas Jefferson. They built their winter fort at Fort Clatsop, near the mouth of the Columbia River. Exploration by Lewis and Clark (1805-1806) and Britain's David Thompson (1811) publicized the abundance of fur in the area. In 1811, New York financier John Jacob Astor established Fort Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River with the intention of starting a chain of Pacific Fur Company trading posts along the river. Fort Astoria was the first permanent white settlement in Oregon. In the War of 1812 the British gained control of all of the Pacific Fur Company posts.

By the 1820s and 1830s the British Hudson's Bay Company dominated the Pacific Northwest. John McLoughlin, who was appointed the Company's Chief Factor of the Columbia District, built Fort Vancouver in 1825.

The Oregon Trail infused the region with new settlers, starting in 1842-43, as the United States sought to wrest control of the area from the United Kingdom. A popular slogan among the Democrats who wanted the Pacific territory as far north as latitude 54°40′ was "fifty-four forty or fight." This controversy was resolved in 1846 after a period of saber rattling where it seemed that the United States and the United Kingdom would go to war a third time in 75 years. Cooler heads prevailed, however, and the boundary between the United States and British North America was set at the 49th parallel.

In the 1880s, railroads enabled marketing of the state's lumber and wheat, and the more rapid growth of its cities.

Industrial expansion began in earnest following the construction of the Bonneville Dam in 1943 on the Columbia River. The power, food, and lumber provided by Oregon have helped fuel the development of the west, and the periodic fluctuations in the nation's building industry has severely impacted the state's economy on multiple occasions.

The state has a long history of polarizing conflicts: Native Americans vs. British fur trappers, British vs. settlers from the U.S., ranchers vs. farmers, wealthy growing cities vs. established but poor rural areas, loggers vs. environmentalists, white supremacists vs. anti-racists, and native Oregonians vs. Californians (or outsiders in general). State ballots frequently illustrate the extremes of the political spectrum - anti-gay, pro-religious measures on the same ballot as liberal drug decriminalization measures.

Law and Government

Oregon's governor serves a four-year term. The legislature consists of a thirty member Senate and sixty member House. Senators serve four year terms, and Representatives two. At the federal level, Oregon is represented by two senators and five representatives, which translates into seven electoral votes.

Oregon has been a pioneer in the use of vote-by-mail:

See also: Oregon Constitution, List of Oregon ballot measures, List of Oregon governors.

Geography

See: List of Oregon counties

Crater Lake National Park is the only national park in the state.

Highest point: Mount Hood, 11,239 ft (3,428 m)
Lowest point: Sea level (the Pacific Ocean).

Economy

The Willamette Valley is very fertile, and coupled with Oregon's famous rains, gives the state a wealth of agricultural products. Appless and other fruits, cattle, dairy products, potatoes, and peppermint are all valuable products. Oregon is also one of four major world hazelnut growing regions.

Her forests have historically made Oregon one of the nation's major lumbering states, but forest fires (such as the Tillamook Burn, over-harvesting, and law suits over the proper management of the extensive federal forest holdings have reduced the amount of timber produced since the later 1980s. Even the shift in recent years towards finished goods such as paper and building materials have not slowed the decline of the timber industry. Examples include the Weyerhaeuser's acquisition of Willamette Industries in January, 2002, the announcement by Louisiana Pacific in September, 2003 that they will relocate their corporate headquarters from Portland to Nashville, and the experiences of small lumber towns like Gilchrist.

High technology industries and services have been a major employer since the 1970s. Tektronix was the largest private employer in Oregon until the late 1980s. Intel's creation and expansion of several plants in eastern Washington County continued the growth that Tektronix had started. The spinoffs and startups that were produced by these two companies led to the establishment of the Portland metropolitan area as the Silicon Forest. The recession and dotcom bust of 2001 in the Silicon Valley has led to similar results in the Silicon Forest; many high technology employers have either reduced the number of their employees or gone out of business.

Oregon had one of the largest salmon-fishing industries in the world, although ocean fisheries have reduced the river fisheries in recent years. Tourism is also strong in the state; Oregon's evergreen mountain forests, waterfalls, pristine lakes (including Crater Lake National Park), and scenic beaches draw visitors year round.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, the population of Oregon is 3,421,399. Its population grew 20.4% (579,062) from its 1990 levels. According to the 2000 census,

86.6% (2,961,623)  identified themselves as White,
8% (275,314)  as Hispanic or Latino,
1.6% (55,662)  as black,
3% (101,350)  as Asian,
1.3% (45,211)  as American Indian or Alaska Native,
0.2% (7,976)  as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander,
4.2% (144,832)  as other, and
3.1% (104,745)  identified themselves as belonging to two or more races.

6.5% of its population were reported as under 5, 24.7% under 18, and 12.8% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.4% of the population.

Important Cities and Towns

See: List of Oregon cities

The capital is Salem and the largest city is Portland.

Oregon City was the first incorporated city west of the Mississippi River and later, the first capital of the Oregon Territory, from 1848 to 1852, when the territory capitol was moved to Salem, Oregon. It was also the end of the Oregon Trail and the site of the first public library established west of the Rocky Mountains, stocked with only 300 volumes.

Education

Colleges and Universities

  • Concordia University, Portland
  • Eastern Oregon University
  • Eugene Bible College
  • George Fox University
  • Gutenberg College
  • Lewis & Clark College
  • Linfield College
  • Marylhurst University
  • Mount Angel Seminary
  • Multnomah Bible College and Seminary
  • Northwest Christian College
  • Oregon Health and Science University
  • Oregon Institute of Technology
  • Oregon State University
  • Pacific Northwest College of Art
  • Pacific University
  • Portland State University
  • Reed College
  • Southern Oregon University
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Portland
  • Warner Pacific College
  • Western Baptist College
  • Western Oregon University
  • Western States Chiropractic College
  • Willamette University

Professional Sports Teams

Portland is in competition to be the home of the Montreal Expos or another major league baseball team.

Miscellaneous Information

FACTS
Population: (2000) 3,421,399, a 20.4% increase over 1990
State Animal: Beaver
State Bird: Western meadowlark
State Fish: Chinook Salmon
State Flower: Oregon grape
State Insect: Oregon Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio oregonius)
State Motto: She Flies With Her Own Wings
State Rock: Thunderegg
State Song: Oregon, My Oregon
State Tree: Douglas fir

Abbreviation: Oreg. Ore. OR

See also: Flag of Oregon, List of radio stations in Oregon

External links

Oregon is also the name of some places in the United States of America:

and of several warships named in honor of the state.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Oregon."

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Abbreviations & Acronyms: OR

The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted.
EntrySourceExpressionField

OR

EnglishOctane RequirementChemical Industry

OR

SpanishOperaciones remotasComputing
Or.EnglishOregonGeography

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Synonyms: OR

Synonyms: operating room (n), operating theater (n), operating theatre (n), surgery (n). (additional references)

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Crosswords: OR

English words defined with "OR": By hook or by crook ♦ come hell or high water, Concrete sound or movement of the voice ♦ First or last, for love or money ♦ give or take ♦ Head or tail ♦ Letters close or clause ♦ more or less ♦ or else, or so, out or keeping ♦ Rhyme or reason ♦ Signaled (/) or Signalled, sooner or later, Such or such ♦ To exhibit a foundation or prize, To hold to or with, To protest a bill or note ♦ Whether or no. (references)
Non-English Usage: "OR" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses.

French (gilt, gold, or), Latin (burn), Spanish (o), Swedish (mite).

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Modern Usage: OR

DomainUsage

Screenplays

My men follow orders or people die. (A Few Good Men; writing credit: Aaron Sorkin)

You the poor kid that never got to go to Exeter or Andover (A Beautiful Mind; writing credit: Akiva Goldsman)

Don't you mess with me, mister, or I'll divorce you so fast it'll make your head spin (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball)

If I leave you here, you die. Or you can be young always, my friend, as we are now, but you must tell me: will you come or no (Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles; writing credit: Anne Rice)

-- or she'll end up on the street (Moulin Rouge!; writing credit: Baz Luhrmann; Craig Pearce)

Lyrics

I'm wanted dead or alive (Wanted Dead or Alive; performing artist: Bon Jovi)

There's nothing left of this mind or my soul (Loser; performing artist: 3 Doors Down)

Like it was before neither less or more (Because Of You; performing artist: 98 Degrees; writing credit: Anders Bagge, Arntor Birgisson, Christian Karlsson, and Patrick Tucker)

Or try again (Try Again; performing artist: Aaliyah)

What's wrong or what's right (Goody Two Shoes; performing artist: Adam Ant)

Clever

Either this man is dead or my watch has stopped. (references; author: Groucho Marx)

Loyalty to a petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul. (references; author: Mark Twain)

Be good or be good at it! (references; author: unknown)

To be or not to be? I think its a trick question. (references; author: unknown)

It doesn't matter if you win or lose until you lose. (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

Do or Die (2003)

By Hoot or by Crook (1974)

Caffeteria or How Are You Going to Keep Her Down on the Farm after She's Seen Paris Twice (1973)

Tea or Me? Coffee (1973)

Da Scaramouche or se vuoi l'assoluzione baciar devi sto... cordone! (1973)

Song Titles

LOVE OR LET ME BE LONELY  (performing artist: Friends Of Distinction )

Check Yes Or No (performing artist: George Strait)

SOONER OR LATER  (performing artist: Grass Roots )

Four Floors Or Forty (performing artist: Nick and the Animal Mind Gravenites)

Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It Or Not) (performing artist: Joey Scarbury)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: OR

DomainTitle

References

  • The 2000 Import and Export Market for Knitted or Crocheted Fabrics in Asia (reference)

  • The 2002 World Forecasts of Knitted or Crocheted Fabrics Export Supplies (reference)

  • Heracles General Cement Co. SA (Heracles GCC or HGCC): International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

  • The 2000 Import and Export Market for Degreased Sheep’s or Lambs’ Wool in the Mass in N. America & Caribbean (reference)

  • The 2002 World Forecasts of Degreased Sheep’s or Lambs’ Wool in the Mass Export Supplies (reference)

    (more reference examples)

  

Books

  • Local government reform in Ghana : democratic renewal or autocratic revival? (reference)

  • Mel Bay's Complete Method for Autoharp or Chromaharp (reference)

  • Auto-immunity and auto-immune disease; a survey for physician or biologist (reference)

  • Manners and Rules of Good Society or Solecisms to be Avoided (1924) (reference)

  • Worst Pills, Best Pills: A Consumer's Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Periodicals

  

Theater & Movies

  • The Simpsons Trick or Treehouse Box Set (reference)

    (more DVD examples; more video examples)

  

Music

  

High Tech

  

Consumer Goods

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: OR

Photos:
OR

More pictures...

Illustrations:
OR

More pictures...

Computer Images:
OR

More pictures...

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Photo Album: OR

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

Pictured is a fermentation laboratory at the Frederick Cancer Research Facility (FCRF). Only the vast rooms of equipment are seen. This equipment is used to produce biologics, e.g. Interferon or antibiotics such as adriamycin. This equipment is used when large quantities must be produced for clinical trials. Credit: Linda Bartlett (photographer).

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a procedure to treat cancer. Patients are injected with a photosensitizer which is a light sensitive drug selectively retained by cancer cells. When exposed to laser light, the photosensitizer in the cancer cells produces a toxic reaction which destroys the tumor. This photo shows an argon-ion laser, the first component of the argon pumped-dye laser (630nm red). This argon-ion laser emits blue-green light at 488/514 nm, and is used to excite a dye in the second component, the dye laser head, where the wavelength is changed to 630nm red. Different photosensitizers absorb light at different wavelengths. Some absorb light most efficiently in the blue light region of the spectrum around 400 nanometers(nm) with lesser absorption in the green and red light range. However, red light at 630 nm penetrates deeper into the tumor tissue (3-8 mm) than green or blue light. For this reason, the majority of PDT work has used 630 nm light. See artwork: GA-17. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist.

This photomicrograph reveals central nervous system syphilis, causing general paresis, or paretic neurosyphilis. Numerous treponemes can be identified using silver impregnation technique; magnification 950X. Credit: CDC.

Histopathology of lung showing ferruginous body. A fiber of asbestos or related substance is coated by an iron-protein complex and surrounded by macrophages. Prussian blue iron stain. Credit: CDC.

"Paul Trap" (movie) by Thomas Leisner. The droplet in the center is oscillating. Use DPGraph's Scrollbar to vary A or B.

"2D Cross Section of a 5-Brane" (movie) by Bob Rutkiewicz. From Physics String Theory/M-Theory, a 5-brane equation that has the same number of holes as the full 10-brane. Use DPGraph's Scrollbar to vary A or B.

Rockets or JATO Jet Assisted Take Off Units. Credit: NASA.

Want to learn more about your favorite star or galaxy? NASA Hubble Space Telescope pictures ... Credit: NASA.

The Hubble telescope has discovered a new, distant class of quadruple or cross-shaped ... Credit: NASA.

The Dasht-e Kevir, or Great Salt Desert, is the largest desert in Iran. It is a primarily uninhabited wasteland, composed of mud and salt marshes covered with crusts of salt that protect the meager moisture from completely evaporating. Credit: NASA.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

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Digital Photo Gallery: OR
 

"Art? Or Abstract?" by Xavier Ruiz
Commentary: "Objects, ."		"Lay or Bust" by Billy Fowks
Commentary: "A door in NY I would love to know what my pictures are being used for. Please let me know. Thanks!."

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

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Sounds Captioned with "OR".

PlayCaptionPlayCaption
A dramatic sci-fi sounding television or movie excerpt.Thick synthesized texture with guitar playing in a new age or world music style.
Sinister digital sounds characteristic of a horror or suspense film.Layered percussion and guitar creating a world music texture or sound.
Synthesized vocals or choir entering in a stretto manner.Upbeat example highlighting a new age style or world music genre with flutes and guitar.
Bug or insect sounds with sustained and blues-reflective melody and accompaniment.An old recording of Hawaiian-sounding music circa 1950's or 1960's.
High energy piece typical of a television show or commercial from the 1980's.Electric guitar and electric keyboard create a new age or world music excerpt.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Familiar Quotations: OR

AuthorQuotation

Alexander Pope

Die and endow a college or a cat.

Aristotle

Either a beast or a god.

Horace

Gold will be slave or master.
Poets wish to profit or to please.

Langston Hughes

Or does it explode?

Lord Alfred Tennyson

A day may sink or save a realm.

Robert Burns

Let us do or die.

Signpost

No dogs or Chinese allowed.

Stephen Decatur

Our country right or wrong.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Historic Usage: OR

AuthorDateQuotation

Magna Carta

1215

To no one will we sell, to no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice. (reference)

John Locke

1690

Nothing was made by God for man to spoil or destroy. (Second Treatise of Government)

US Declaration of Independence

1776

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. (reference)

US Constitution

1791

When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. (reference)

US Bill of Rights

1795

Amendment IX. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. (reference)

Amendment to US Constitution

1795-1992

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. (reference)

Marbury v. Madison

1803

To prescribe, or to take this oath, becomes equally a crime. (reference)

Communist Manifesto

1848

A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. (reference)

The Emancipation Proclamation

1862

"That the executive will on the 1st day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State or the people thereof shall on that day be in good faith represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such States shall have participated shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the people thereof are not then in rebellion against the United States." (Abraham Lincoln)

Abraham Lincoln

1863

The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. (The Gettysburg Address)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Use in Literature: OR

TitleAuthorQuote

Emma

Austen, Jane

I do not look upon myself as either prosperous or indulged

Sylvie and Bruno Concluded

Carroll, Lewis

When a man appears to be getting alarmingly ignorant, or stupid, they will sometimes refuse to supply him any longer

A Christmas Carol

Dickens, Charles

This might have lasted half a minute, or a minute, but it seemed an hour

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

Douglas Adams

Well, said Reg, "it’s been an interesting time recently, or rather, a dull time

Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Nothing is too small or too trifling to undergo this change, and acquire dignity thereby

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

Either from want of time or indifference she no longer washed her linen

Absalom and Achitophel

John Dryden

So over violent, or over civil, That every man with him was God or Devil

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Joyce, James

Where? Down the staircase and along the corridors or to his room at the end

Time Enough for Love

Robert Heinlein

A committee is a lifeform with six or more legs and no brain

King Richard III

Shakespeare, William

Six or seven thousand is their utmost power

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Non-Fiction Usage: OR

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

Seizures or epilepsy. (references)

Weakness or paralysis. (references)

Loss of smell or taste. (references)

Business

Special monopoles or camouflaged antennas. (references)

Or, Japanese importers will do so in Japan. (references)

Bids can either be technical or commercial. (references)

Children

Ghana

Trokosi may or may not attend school. (references)

Papua New Guinea

Primary education is not free, compulsory, or universal. (references)

Congo

Primary school education is not compulsory, free, or universal. (references)

Civil Liberties

Congo

No political parties were banned or suspended. (references)

Belize

Most are Africans from Nigeria or Sierra Leone. (references)

Vietnam

He is unable to receive visitors or phone calls. (references)

Discrimination

Papua New Guinea

Extreme geographic diversity prevents any one tribe or clan from dominating the country. (references)

Haiti

It does provide for equal working conditions regardless of sex, beliefs, or marital status. (references)

Nicaragua

Few, if any, discrimination suits or formal complaints were filed with government officials. (references)

Economic History

Marshall Islands

Trial is by jury or judge. (references)

Fiji

Terrain: Mountainous or varied. (references)

Saudi Arabia

Adjective--Saudi Arabian or Saudi. (references)

Human Rights

Angola

Delays of 2 or 3 years are common. (references)

Argentina

A panel of judges decides guilt or innocence. (references)

Togo

Judges or senior police officials issue warrants. (references)

Indigenous People

Guatemala

Many indigenous people are illiterate or do not speak Spanish. (references)

Thailand

Those residing in national parks or wildlife sanctuaries are subject to eviction. (references)

India

No rubber, wax, ivory, or other forest products may be removed from the protected areas without prior authorization. (references)

Minorities

Kuwait

Most have admitted to Saudi or Syrian origin. (references)

Azerbaijan

Most shield their identity or try to leave Azerbaijan. (references)

Mauritius

Interreligious or interethnic marriage is relatively rare. (references)

Political Economy

SWEDEN

No capital or exchange controls remain. (references)

SWEDEN

The standard legal work week is 40 hours or less. (references)

JAMAICA

Penalties also may include fines or imprisonment. (references)

Political Rights

Guyana

Any citizen 18 years or older may register to vote. (references)

Venezuela

It ordered recounts or partial revotes in some cases. (references)

Nicaragua

The vice president has no constitutionally mandated duties or powers. (references)

Trade

France

Bill of Landing or Air Waybill. (references)

Panama

All or most production is exported. (references)

Switzerland

No transit duties or fees are levied. (references)

Travel

Sri Lanka

No duties or taxes are charged. (references)

Greece

No visas or other formalities are required. (references)

Venezuela

Most correspondence is done by fax or email. (references)

Women

Kiribati

Obscene or indecent behavior is banned. (references)

Bulgaria

No government agencies provide shelter or counseling for victims. (references)

Iran

The Siqeh marriage may last for a night or as little as 30 minutes. (references)

Worker Rights

Pakistan

Most are from Punjab or Sindh. (references)

Romania

Coercion includes fraud or misrepresentation. (references)

Croatia

Detention may last several days or several weeks. (references)

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

DUEL, n. A formal ceremony preliminary to the reconciliation of two enemies. Great skill is necessary to its satisfactory observance; if awkwardly performed the most unexpected and deplorable consequences sometimes ensue. A long time ago a man lost his life in a duel. That dueling's a gentlemanly vice I hold; and wish that it had been my lot To live my life out in some favored spot -- Some country where it is considered nice To split a rival like a fish, or slice A husband like a spud, or with a shot Bring down a debtor doubled in a knot And ready to be put upon the ice. Some miscreants there are, whom I do long To shoot, to stab, or some such way reclaim The scurvy rogues to better lives and manners, I seem to see them now -- a mighty throng. It looks as if to challenge me they came, Jauntily marching with brass bands and banners! Xamba Q. Dar

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Top     

Spoken Usage: OR

SpeakerPhrase(s)

Bob Barker

Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Good bye, everybody.

Chuck Hagel

Well, all I can tell you is that they are part of an administration, and either they're on the team or they're not on the team.

Dennis Miller

Or better yet, make the kids find work so both parents can stay home.

Jerry Lewis

I'm going to be able to do the top of the show. I'll do five or six hours, and then I've got to rest for eight, and then I'll do the balance.

Jesse Ventura

Get unicameral or single-house on the ballot so that the people of Minnesota could have a choice of what their government would be.

Rosie O'Donnell

Sometimes I do, I miss it, when I read a good script or see a great movie, and I think, I would have loved to do that.