or suffix [L. -or: cf. OF. -or, -ur, -our, F. -eur.]

1. A noun suffix denoting an act; a state or quality; as in error, fervor, pallor, candor, etc.

2. A noun suffix denoting an agent or doer; as in auditor, one who hears; donor, one who gives; obligor, elevator. It is correlative to -ee. In general -or is appended to words of Latin, and -er to those of English, origin. See -er. Or (ôr), conjunction [OE. or, outher, other, auther, either, or, AS. āwðer, contr. from āhwaeðer; ā aye + hwaeðer whether. See Aye, and Whether, and cf. Either.] A particle that marks an alternative; as, you may read or may write, – that is, you may do one of the things at your pleasure, but not both. It corresponds to either. You may ride either to London or to Windsor. It often connects a series of words or propositions, presenting a choice of either; as, he may study law, or medicine, or divinity, or he may enter into trade.

If man’s convenience, health,
Or safety interfere, his rights and claims
Are paramount. Cowper.

☞ Or may be used to join as alternatives terms expressing unlike things or ideas (as, is the orange sour or sweet?), or different terms expressing the same thing or idea; as, this is a sphere, or globe.

☞ Or sometimes begins a sentence. In this case it expresses an alternative or subjoins a clause differing from the foregoing.

“Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone?” Matt. vii. 9 (Rev. Ver.) Or for either is archaic or poetic.

Maugre thine heed, thou must for indigence
Or steal, or beg, or borrow thy dispence. Chaucer.

Or, preposition or adverb [AS. r ere, before. √204. See Ere, preposition or adverb] Ere; before; sooner than. [Obs.]

But natheless, while I have time and space,
Or that I forther in this tale pace. Chaucer.

Or ever

Or ere

See under Ever, and Ere.

Or, noun [F., fr. L. aurum gold. Cf. Aureate.] (Her.) Yellow or gold color, – represented in drawing or engraving by small dots.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913