Standard Lemma guide

oscitance

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

oscitancy

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth; usually triggered by fatigue or boredom

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he could not suppress a yawn
  • the yawning in the audience told him it was time to stop
  • he apologized for his oscitancy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: yawn, yawning, oscitancy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reflex, reflex response, reflex action, instinctive reflex, innate reflex, inborn reflex, unconditioned reflex, physiological reaction

Narrower terms: pandiculation

3

noun

Meaning 3

drowsiness and dullness manifested by yawning

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: oscitancy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: dullness, obtuseness, sleepiness, drowsiness, somnolence

History

Etymology

From Latin oscitans, present participle of ōscitō (“to yawn, gape, open the mouth”), from Latin os (“the mouth”).