or

or

or¹ [ôr]

conj.

[ME, in form a contr. of other, auther, either, but actually < OE oththe (in āther ... oththe, either ... or)]

a coordinating conjunction introducing an alternative; specif.,

a) introducing the second of two possibilities [beer or wine]

b) introducing any of the possibilities in a series, but usually used only before the last [apples or pears or plums; apples, pears, or plums]

c) introducing a synonymous word or phrase [botany, or the science of plants]

d) introducing the second of two possibilities when the first is introduced by either or whether [either go or stay; decide whether to go or stay]

e) Old Poet. substituted for either or whether as the first correlative [“or in the heart or in the head”]

or² [ôr]

conj., prep.

[ME < OE ār, var. of ær, ere: see ERE]

Now Chiefly Dial. before; ere

or³ [ôr]

n.

[Fr < L aurum, gold: for IE base see EAST]

Heraldry the representation of the metal gold: indicated in engravings by small black dots on a white field