Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ

Aug 7, 2002

This week's theme
False cognates

This week's words
sacrilegious
scission
oust
impregnable
mellifluous

Internet Anagram Server
I, Rearrangement Servant
May I try your name?

---

oust

verb tr.: To expel from a place or position.

[From Middle English, from Anglo-French ouster, from Old French oster, from Latin obstare (to stand in the way), from ob- (in the way) + stare (to stand).]

Even though the resemblance is strong, the words oust and out have no shared history (out comes from Old English ut). Here are two interesting cousins of oust: obstetrics and obstacle.

"The ouster of Ukraine's reform-minded Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko will deepen a political crisis in the country ..."
Simon Saradzhyan, Kiev Crisis Won't Hit Russia Ties, The Moscow Times (Russia), Apr 30, 2001.

"Treasury Secretary, Paul O'Neill's habit of being out of the country during times of economic turmoil has led even some Republicans to call for his ouster."
James Carney, et al; Inside the Mind of the CEO President; Time (New York); Aug 5, 2002.

X-Bonus