or

«or» in Mova's judaism dictionary: Or gives a choice between two or more things: tea or juice? — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

conjunction

meaning for a pupil

1) Or gives a choice between two or more things: tea or juice? tree →

2) Or means if not, otherwise: Hurry, or you'll be late. tree →

3) Or can give another word for the same thing: a joey, or baby kangaroo. tree →

4) «Either … or» gives exactly two choices; «whether or not» means in either case. tree →

5) (casual) «Or what?» at the end pushes a question: «you coming or what?»; «or something», «or whatever» mean roughly, I'm not sure. tree →

6) (rough) «Or else!» at the end is a threat: «Give it back, or else!» tree →

7) (formal) The exam voice says «alternatively», «otherwise», «failing which», «or, equivalently», «either … or …», «respectively». tree →

sense in the lessons

In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah it joins choices or lists, often in laws, such as "or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed." Interpretation: Laws often use "or" to list every case a rule covers, so no case is left out. In the primary lessons: choosing between two possibilities («Do we add or subtract?»); in everyday life choices («now or later?»), warnings («wear a hat or you'll get burnt»); «more or less» (about), «or so» (about); in maths «either … or», «is it odd or even?»; in casual talk «or what?», «or something»; in rough talk «or else»; in the exam voice «alternatively», «failing which», «either A or B»

examples

• or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed, (Torah LEV.21.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. (Torah EXO.22.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• Know now whether it is thy son's coat or not.' (Torah GEN.37.32, JPS 1917) tree →
• Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? (Writings JOB.8.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, (Writings JOB.38.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Or where were the upright cut off? (Writings JOB.4.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• First decide: are things coming together, or going away? tree →
• Do we add or subtract? tree →
• Do you want an apple or a banana? tree →
• Is 15 odd or even? tree →
• Put on sunscreen, or you will get sunburnt. tree →
• You can draw a cat, a dog or a horse. tree →
• We will be there in ten minutes or so. tree →
• A baby kangaroo, or joey, lives in its mum's pouch. tree →
• are you thick or what, it's 12 tree →
• Give my ball back, or else! tree →
• there's like 20 kids or something tree →
• Indicate whether the integer 15 is odd or even; failing which, no credit shall be awarded. tree →
• "Are you awake or asleep, One-Eye? tree →

note

No operation clue. Trap: «2 or 3 apples» is an estimate, not 5 apples; «20 or something» and «10 minutes or so» are about, not exact. «or else» is a threat or a bluff, and «or what?» is pushing, not a real choice. Do not mix «or» with «oar» (a paddle for a boat) and «ore» (rock with metal): they sound the same.

In the corpora

• And the man looked stedfastly on her; holding his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
• Know now whether it is thy son's coat or not.'
• And Judah said: 'What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves?
• My lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother?
• And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «or» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.