Chapter Olympia to Open Air Mission of O by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Olympia to Open Air Mission

Olympia (in Orlando Furioso). Countess of Holland, and wife of Bireno. Cymosco of Friza wanted to force her to marry his son Arbantes, but Arbantes was slain. This aroused the fury of Cymosco, who seized Bireno, and would have put him to death if Orlando had not slain Cymosco. Bireno having deserted Olympia, she was bound naked to a rock by pirates; but Orlando delivered her and took her to Ireland. Here King Oberto espoused her cause, slew Bireno, and married the young widow. (Bks. iv., v.)

Olympiad among the ancient Greeks, was a period of four years, being the interval between the celebrations of their Olympic Games.

Olympian Jove or rather Zeus (1 syl.) A statue by Phidias, and reckoned one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.” Pausanias (vii. 2) says when the sculptor placed it in the temple at Elis, he prayed the god to indicate whether he was satisfied with it, and immediately a thunderbolt fell on the floor of the temple without doing the slightest harm.
    The statue was made of ivory and gold, and though seated on a throne, was 60 feet in height. The left hand rested on a sceptre, and the right palm held a statue of Victory in solid gold. The robes were of gold, and so were the four lions which supported the footstool. The throne was of cedar, embellished with ebony, ivory, gold, and precious stones. (See Minerva.)
   It was placed in the temple at Elis B.C. 433, was removed to Constantinople, and perished in the great fire of A.D. 475. It was completed in 4 years, and of course the materials were supplied by the Government of Elis.
   The “Homer of Sculptors” died in prison, having been incarcerated on the trumpery charge of having introduced on a shield of one of his statues a portrait of himself.

Olympic Games Games held by the Greeks at Olympia, in Elis, every fourth year, in the month of July.

Olympus On the confines of Macedonia and Thessaly, where the fabulous court of Jupiter was supposed to be held. It is used for any pantheon, as “Odin, Thor, Balder, and the rest of the Northern Olympus.” The word means all bright or clear. In Greek the word is Olumpos.

O'Lynn (Brian). Slang for gin. (See Chivy. )

Om A Sanscrit word, somewhat similar to Amen. When the gods are asked to rejoice in a sacrifice, the god Savitri cries out Om (Be it so). When Pravâhan is asked if his father has instructed him, he answers Om (Verily). Brahmins begin and end their lessons on the Veda with the word Om, for “unless Om precedes his lecture, it will be like water on a rock, which cannot be gathered up; and unless it concludes the lecture, it will bring forth no fruit.”
   Om mani padem hûm. These are the first six syllables taught the children of Tibet and Mongolia, and the last words uttered by the dying in those lands. It is met with everywhere as a charm.

O'man's Sea The Persian Gulf.

Ombre A Spanish game of cards called the royal game of ombre. Prior has an epigram on the subject. He says he was playing ombre with two ladies, and though he wished to lose, won everything, for Fortune gave him “success in every suit but hearts.” Pope has immortalised the game in his Rape of the Lock.

O'mega The alpha and omega. The first and the last, the beginning and the end. Alpha is the first and omega the last letter of the Greek alphabet.

Omens (See Ill Omens .)

Omeyinger Saga An historical tradition of Scandinavia.

Omnibus The French have a good slang term for these conveyances. They call an omnibus a “Four Banal” (parish oven).
    Of course, omnibus (for all) is the oblique case of omnes (all). Yet Howitt, in his Visits to Remarkable Places (1840), says “Cabs and cars and omnibi and stages” (p. 200). The plural of omnibus is “omnibuses.”