100 SAT words Beginning with "O"

In August, editor-at-large Leigh Buchanan and I traveled to the foundation's headquarters, an oasis of greenery and glass in sweltering Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Oldstone, in particular, exhausted all his powers of persuasion to yet delay his departure, but he found him obdurate. M. Y. Halidom (pseud. Dryasdust)

“‘With all due respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, “‘Your most obedient and humble servant.’ Semmes, Raphael

All heads were inclined in an obeisance of deep homage. Sienkiewicz, Henryk

Yet as we tried to understand, there always seemed to be an obfuscating layer: something or someone was working against comprehension.

"Our main objective is to maintain a balance between market share and profitability," Chief Executive Officer Marco Antonio Bologna said in the earnings statement.

I considered myself as a married man and under obligation to alter my way of living, and I stopped playing. Seingalt, Jacques Casanova de

An old man, of monstrous obesity, seated on a wooden chair, devoured his pittance with animal voracity, casting on either side oblique angry glances. Sue, Eugène

They were lying down and apparently oblivious to my approach—perhaps asleep. Various

Thus public men are content to leave their reputation to posterity; great reactions take place in opinion; nay, sometimes men outlive opposition and obloquy. Newman, John Henry Cardinal

Nor has any obscure, mysterious, or illusive point in history been cleared up by the spirits. Flammarion, Camille

The man had been eager in his attentions, deferential, almost obsequious. Packard, Frank L. (Frank Lucius)

Over the past dozen or so years, hospitals across the country have gone digital, leading to better patient outcomes and making hangar-size file-storage facilities obsolete. Slate (Apr 9, 2012)

No opposition was so great, no difficulty so stubborn and obstinate, which he did not conquer by his beloved Son, the author of our salvation. Arndt, Johann

If particularly wild, obstinate, or obstreperous, he still keeps breaking away, and refusing to come into camp. Shields, George O.

Through Icy Sound we found some difficulty in penetrating, as the channel was much obstructed by ice. Fitzroy, Robert

Nine years later, Napoleon managed, by skilful intrigues, to obtain quiet possession of Malta. Whymper, Frederick

“We’ve done research, and the ads are considered annoying, irritating and obtrusive,” Mr. Norris said after watching Barnes & Noble’s presentation. New York Times (Nov 7, 2011)

The affair had been mentioned so plainly that it was impossible for the most dense and obtuse person not to have understood the allusion. Brazil, Angela

Fevers are at present alarmingly prevalent, arising from causes which judicious attention and sanitary means would easily obviate. Ballou, Maturin Murray

In many cases we can dissolve the clot that is occluding the artery or blood vessel in the brain and restore normal flow. Seattle Times (Nov 29, 2010)

He studied magic, and his thirst for knowledge of the occult sciences grew. Butterworth, Hezekiah

Another reason sales have fallen is that previously occupied homes have become a better deal than new homes. Time (Apr 17, 2012)

Hideous and odious, revolting beyond all expression, the underground war finished by becoming impossible. Tarde, Gabriel

Week after week, the seceders were held up to public odium, derision and scorn. Doheny, Michael

Some odoriferous substances are fragrant for many years, exhaling continually, yet are not quickly consumed. Gilbert, William

He hit six rodeos in seven days, an odyssey that took him to stops in Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico and California. Newsweek (Dec 10, 2010)

The research said milder expressions should be used to "avoid offending the public and stoking social tensions".

Be kind, of course; that’s only your duty, but I call it officious and presumptuous to interfere in other people’s lives. Earnshaw, Elizabeth

The chain has been raising prices on some drinks to help offset higher costs for commodities like coffee and milk. New York Times (Jan 27, 2012)

“This simple food keeps you in beautiful health, Father,” said Mistletoe, ogling the swarthy face of the Abbot with an affection that he duly noted. Stewardson, John

The human brain’s olfactory bulb is activated differently depending on where a smell hits the nostril, indicating that odor receptor organization is not uniform. Scientific American (Sep 26, 2011)

The track management of this particular university was an oligarchy; was governed by a few absolute individuals. Marchand, J. N.

Pale-faced, wide-eyed, statuesque, their presence, interpreted by a vivid imagination, might have been regarded as an omen of impending misfortune. Harris, Joel Chandler

He knew there was something ominous in her silence, like gathering thunder. Canfield, Dorothy

Titles are abbreviated, mottoes dropped, foot notes cut out, and many earlier poems reduced, or omitted entirely. Freneau, Philip

We can still call Him Omnipotent in the sense that He possesses all the power there is. Rashdall, Hastings

He is here, there, and everywhere; he is omnipresent—this curse of Finland. Alec-Tweedie, Mrs. (Ethel)

The Omniscient Being alone can have perfect knowledge of all beings and things as they are. Peabody, Andrew P. (Andrew Preston)

Rats and mice are practically omnivorous, feeding upon all kinds of animal and vegetable matter. Lantz, David E.

The charge was an onerous one, requiring constant and severe labor, as well as the exercise of patience, prudence, and good judgment. Richardson, James D. (James Daniel)

This correspondence of sound and sense is called onomatopoeia. Baum, Paull Franklin

Most companies are facing an onslaught of information about customers from social networks, the Internet, and mobile devices.

With Xavi out injured, the onus was on Alonso to supply his forward line and he excelled at the task.

It is a picture beautiful as the opalescent colors of a soap bubble. Leacock, Stephen

Comets differ from the bodies which we have just been describing in that they appear filmy and transparent, whereas the others are solid and opaque. Dolmage, Cecil Goodrich Julius

I am a Secret Service operative seeking information about Cheney. Taft, William Nelson

Signs of opiate drug use include pinpoint pupils, too much sleep, too little motivation, unexplained absences and worsening grades, counselors say. Seattle Times (Oct 1, 2011)

Sarkozy has been criticized by opponents and even some allies for his sometimes brutal manner of pushing through decisions.

Most viewed the budget surplus as opportune: a chance to pay down the national debt, cut taxes, shore up entitlements or pursue new spending programs. Washington Post (Feb 19, 2012)

A Rangoon resident told the BBC that some of these groups were seen as opportunists playing along with the junta for personal gain. BBC (Mar 30, 2010)

Medical Missions in Persia have already worked wonders, breaking down opposition, winning friends even amongst the most fanatical. Hume-Griffith, A.

The consequences flowing from this unjust and oppressive system of taxation are appalling. Cloud, D. C.

They know how easily the taunting of Mr Brown over bullying allegations and ill-scripted condolence letters engendered public sympathy rather than opprobrium. BBC (Apr 28, 2010)

Ms. McCarthy remains hopeful about the future of public education: “I’m forever an optimist. New York Times (Apr 9, 2010)

All other laws, it is optional with each man to obey, or not, as he may choose. Spooner, Lysander

The count was rich in land, but his income could not be compared with that of the opulent Garnet. Palacio Valdés, Armando

Barnes will perform his opus, "Acknowledgment of a Celebration," which he debuted at last fall's Earshot Jazz Festival. Seattle Times (May 31, 2010)

Dionysus further possessed the prophetic gift, and his oracle at Delphi was as important as that of Apollo. Various

Nor does his philosophic attitude exclude the possibility of a certain faith in oracular foresight and divination. Dill, Samuel

As an orator Senator Evarts stood in the foremost rank, and some of his best speeches were published. Various

Police say officers began patrolling parks near the stadium Monday night to make sure no park ordinances are violated, especially those related to alcohol. Seattle Times (Apr 10, 2012)

While the government and the developers are doing well, many ordinary people are hurt by the high cost of living.

Some forty English students are educated for the priesthood and return on their ordination for work in their native land. O'Reilly, Elizabeth Boyle

And because she has an organic farm, she does not use spray pesticides, experimenting with spraying soapy water. Washington Post (Sep 24, 2010)

To reduce the number of dropouts, it is offering students a three-week “orientation” during which they can quit without charge.

The mouth, a round, lipless orifice, contracted or dilated at will; from it came whistling words. Diffin, Charles Willard

British, but especially English, place names are, in a vast majority of cases, either of Saxon, Norse, or Celtic origin. Russell, T. O.

Some plants, such as the sweet potato, originated in the Andes Mountains but apparently spread across the Pacific Ocean before the arrival of Columbus.

Unlike his literary icon, Herman Melville, he doesn’t adorn his writing with ornate flourishes or complicated scaffolding. Scientific American (Dec 20, 2011)

Besides the structural resemblances, which are, of course, the only ones considered by ornithologists in classifying birds, the indigo buntings have several sparrow-like traits. Blanchan, Neltje

The answer came back in a deep, orotund, sing-song voice. Ward, Herbert D. (Herbert Dickinson)

His opinions, clashing as they did with orthodox creeds, were given in a tentative, questioning fashion, so that where ecclesiastical censure fell, retreat was easier. Clodd, Edward

His love of the orthogonal, which like 1980s dance moves once verged on the robotic, is relaxing into less pure angles.

When the polariton flow was excited with two laser beams, the quantum fluid began to oscillate backwards and forwards in ways predicted by quantum mechanics. Forbes (Jan 9, 2012)

But the osseous outgrowth, the bones, you know, complicate things. Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

Looking at it out of the corner of my eye, I could think about being a teenager, before roles were ossified and boundaries set. New York Times (Nov 24, 2010)

This already-exhaustive book is studded with diary entries, academic papers and other ostensible evidence that its fictitious stories of destruction are true. New York Times (Jun 6, 2010)

He was frugal and dressed in plain, ordinary clothes rather than extravagant or ostentatious ones. Reilly, S. A.

Although she may have been more sinned against than sinning, she is cast out and ostracized by society. Moody, Dwight Lyman

There is no superfluous ornament in his orations, nothing tawdry, nothing otiose. Lincoln, Abraham

Maldives' torture- addicted previous president was ousted and a more democratic government was established. Seattle Times (May 3, 2012)

"Very frustrating process, but a great outcome in the end," Moore told The Idaho Statesman. Seattle Times (May 1, 2012)

His outsized personality and outlandish comments - maybe not so absurd given what Ryan's New York Jets have achieved - draw notice no matter the situation. Seattle Times (Jan 23, 2011)

Every single time reporters, analysts, and citizens are astonished, outraged, shocked anew that the politician didn’t just go ahead and admit what he did. Slate (Nov 9, 2011)

“The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is unacceptable,” Mr. Obama said at the White House, after meeting with Mrs. Clinton. New York Times (Feb 24, 2011)

Security forces were checking cars inside the city and in its outskirts.

Even my lady, so blunt and outspoken by nature, had shrunk from trying to question the Dutch girl about her lover. Weyman, Stanley John

To top it all off, he regularly outwits his elders, showing natural positional sense and finishing moves with the poise and intelligence of an expert.

Buster Poster, receiving rousing ovations from fans every time his name was announced, cleared another milestone with an RBI single in the first. Seattle Times (Apr 5, 2012)

He who had been so unprincipled and arrogant, so insolent and overbearing, his cleverness no longer needed, was tossed aside by his employers. Wingfield, Lewis

Abbott said he learned a lot by winning, by overcoming the odds. New York Times (Apr 30, 2012)

The former Pennsylvania senator defended the practice by saying that Congress has an important oversight role in shaping the federal budget. Chicago Tribune (Feb 23, 2012)

In this music, the Caribbean element often isn’t overt but is coded in the relationship between rhythm and melody. New York Times (Mar 6, 2010)

Just two weeks ago, Mali’s 1991 revolution was reversed when mutinous soldiers overthrew a democratically elected government. New York Times (Apr 6, 2012)

There were crack riders and ropers who, just because they felt such overweening pride in their own prowess, were not really very valuable men. Roosevelt, Theodore

I think I was not so much afraid as oppressed by an almost overwhelming sense of loneliness. Gilson, Charles

Belshazzar, pale-faced and utterly overwrought, physically exhausted, mentally apprehensive, followed his father, walking alone. Potter, Margaret Horton

He sat scared in Greece on his team’s bus as it was attacked by overzealous fans. Washington Post (Aug 31, 2011)

As oxymorons go, the silent disco is right up there, along with vegan bacon, jumbo shrimps and the living dead.