Chapter O'Connell's Tail to Odyssey of O by Brewer's Readers Handbook

O'Connell's Tail to Odyssey

O’Connell’s Tail, the nickname given to the party of the Irish agitator Daniel O’Connell (1775–1847), after the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832.

Octa, a mountain from which the Latin poets say the sun rises.

Octave , the son of Argante . During the absence of his father, Octave fell in love with Hyacinthe daughter of Géronte, and married her, supposing her to be the daughter of signior Pandolphe of Tarentum. His father wanted him to marry the daughter of his friend Géronte, but Octave would not listen to it. It turned out, however, that the daughter of Pandolphe and the daughter of Géronte were one and the same person, for Géronte had assumed the name of Pandolphe while he lived in Tarentum, and his wife and daughter stayed behind after the father went to live at Naples.—Molière: Les Fourberies de Scapin (1671).

(In the English version, called The Cheats of Scapin, by Thomas Otway, Octave is called “Octavian,” Argante is called “Thrifty,” Hyacinthe is called “Clara,” and Géronte is “Gripe.”)

Octavia, wife of Mark Antony, Cæsar’s sister.—Dryden: All for Love (1678).

Octavian, the lover of Floranthê. He goes mad because he fancies that Floranthê loves another; but Roque, a blunt, kind-hearted old man, assures him that doña Floranthê is true to him, and induces him to return home.—Colman: The Mountaineers (1793).

Octavian, the English form of “Octave” , in Otway’s Cheats of Scapin. (See Octave.)

Octavio, the supposed husband of Jacintha. This Jacintha was at one time contracted to don Henrique, but Violante passed for don Henrique’s wife.—Fletcher: The Spanish Curate (1622).

Octavio, the betrothed of donna Clara.—Jephson: Two Strings to your Bow (1792).

Octer, a sea-captain in the reign of king Alfred, who traversed the Norwegian mountains, and sailed to the Dwina in the north of Russia.

The Saxon swaying all, in Alfred’s powerful reign,
Our English Octer put a fleet to sea again.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xix. (1622).

O’Cutter (Captain), a ridiculous Irish captain, befriended by lady Freelove and lord Trinket. He speaks with a great brogue, and interlards his speech with sea terms.—Colman: The Jealous Wife (1761).

Ocypus, son of Podalirius and Astasia, noted for his strength, agility, and beauty. Ocypus used to jeer at the gout, and the goddess of that disease caused him to suffer from it for ever.—Lucian.

Oda, the dormitory of the sultan’s seraglio.

It was a spacious chamber (Oda is
The Turkish title), and ranged round the wall
Were couches.
   —Byron: Don Juan, vi. 51 (1824).

Odalisque, in Turkey, one of the female slaves in the sultan’s harem (odalik, Arabic, “a chamber companion,” oda, “a chamber”).

He went forth with the lovely odalisques.
   —Byron: Don Juan, vi. 29 (1824).

Odd Numbers. Among the Chinese, heaven is odd, earth is even; heaven is round, earth is square. The numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, belong to yang (“heaven”); but 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, belong to yin (“earth”).—Rev. Mr. Edkins.

Ode (Prince of the), Pierre de Ronsard (1524–1585).