In English, O has a long sound, as in tone, hone, groan, cloke, roll, droll; a short sound, as in lot plod, rod, song, lodge. The sound of oo is shortened in words ending in a close articulation, as in book and foot.
The long sound of O, is usually denoted by e, at the end of a word or syllable, as in bone, lonely; or by a servile a, as in moan, foal. It is generally long before ll, as in roll; but it is short in doll, loll, and in words of more syllables than one, as in folly, volley.
As a numeral, O was sometimes used by the ancients for 11, and with a dash over it for 11,000.
Among the ancients, O was a mark of tripe time, from the notion that the ternary or number 3, is the most perfect of numbers, and properly expressed by a circle, the most perfect figure.
O is often used as an exclamation, expressing a wish.
O, were he present.
It sometimes expresses surprise. Shakespeare uses O for a circle or oval.
Within this wooden O.
O.S. stands for Old Style.
