Oscines
(||Os"ci*nes) n. pl. [L. oscen, -inis.] (Zoöl.) Singing birds; a group of the Passeres, having
numerous syringeal muscles, conferring musical ability.
Oscinian
(Os*cin"i*an) n. (Zoöl.) One of the Oscines, or singing birds.
Oscinian
(Os*cin"i*an), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of dipterous files of the family Oscinidæ.
Some, whose larvæ live in the stalks, are very destructive to barley, wheat, and rye; others, as the barley
fly destroy the heads of grain.
Oscinine
(Os"ci*nine) a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Oscines.
Oscitancy
(Os"ci*tan*cy) n. [See Oscitant.]
1. The act of gaping or yawning.
2. Drowsiness; dullness; sluggishness. Hallam.
It might proceed from the oscitancy of transcribers.
Addison. Oscitant
(Os"ci*tant) a. [L. oscitans, -antis, p. pr. of oscitare: cf. F. oscitant.]
1. Yawning; gaping.
2. Sleepy; drowsy; dull; sluggish; careless.
He must not be oscitant, but intent on his charge.
Barrow. Oscitantly
(Os"ci*tant*ly), adv. In an oscitant manner.
Oscitate
(Os"ci*tate) v. i. [L. oscitare; os the mouth + citare, v. intens. fr. ciere to move.] To gape; to
yawn.
Oscitation
(Os`ci*ta"tion) n. [L. oscitatio: cf. F. oscitation.] The act of yawning or gaping. Addison.
Osculant
(Os"cu*lant) a. [L. osculans, -antis, p. pr. of osculari to kiss. See Osculate.]
1. Kissing; hence, meeting; clinging.
2. (Zoöl.) Adhering closely; embracing; — applied to certain creeping animals, as caterpillars.
3. (Biol.) Intermediate in character, or on the border, between two genera, groups, families, etc., of
animals or plants, and partaking somewhat of the characters of each, thus forming a connecting link; interosculant; as,
the genera by which two families approximate are called osculant genera.
Osculate
(Os"cu*late) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Osculated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Osculating.] [L. osculatus, p.
p. of osculari to kiss, fr. osculum a little mouth, a kiss, dim. of os mouth. See Oral, and cf. Oscillate.]
1. To kiss.
2. (Geom.) To touch closely, so as to have a common curvature at the point of contact. See Osculation,
2.
Osculate
(Os"cu*late), v. i.
1. To kiss one another; to kiss.
