# oss

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɒs/ · frequency rank #29,773

## Definitions
1. To set about, or intend be inclined to set about (doing something).
2. To offer (to do something).

## Etymology
Unclear. Middle English ōssen had a rather different meaning, "to reveal, to prophesy", but the OED suggests it could nonetheless be the same verb. The origin of the Middle English verb is itself obscure, but it may be a variant of halsen, from Old English hālsian, although this too had a rather different meaning, "to beseech, entreat; to exorcise; to imprecate".

## Easily confused with
- **oz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-oz)
- **OT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ot)
- **ou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ou)
- **ow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ow)
- **ox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ox)
- **oy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-oy)
- **ov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ov)
- **out** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-out)
- **our** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-our)
- **own** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-own)
- **owe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-owe)
- **owl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-owl)
- **OST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ost)
- **ova** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ova)
- **OTC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-otc)
- **OTT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ott)
- **Ota** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ota)
- **oth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-oth)
- **oui** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-oui)
- **OTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oss-vs-ots)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/oss