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omnibus

omnibus

1 9.9
A large vehicle that carries many people, used for public transport in the past
  • noun
  • /ˈɑːmnɪbəs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ómnibus
  • This time he took a hansom, not the public omnibus, and alighted in the highly fashionable Eaton Square and presented himself at the front door of number five.
  • take an omnibus
  • public omnibus
  • catch his omnibus

British law uses the charming Victorian phrase the man on the Clapham omnibus to refer to this hypothetic, reasonable person.

Examples

  • The omnibus was stationary again, behind a large brewer's dray.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • As the sun set, the old omnibus rattled along the cobblestone streets, filled with eager passengers.

  • Then she turned away and walked briskly down the street toward the place where the public omnibus might be caught for the long ride back.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Size of it! The omnibus moved forward with a jolt and resumed its slow progress, and the conversation was lost.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Charlotte took the omnibus to Cater Street and arrived shortly after ten o'clock, not a suitable time for calling.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • People like Great-aunt Vespasia did not live on the routes of the public omnibus.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • p169 Charlotte set out the following morning on the omnibus to see Great-aunt Vespasia.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • In the morning, Pitt ate a hurried breakfast, having woken late, and then kissed Charlotte long and gently, and left at a run to take an omnibus to see the medical examiner again.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • While Charlotte and Caroline were concerned with the Blaine/Godman case and the danger to Tamar Macaulay and Joshua Fielding, Pitt was sitting in the public omnibus, returning his attention to the death of Judge Stafford.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • In the story, the main character often rode the omnibus to explore the city, reflecting on life.

Synonyms

bus
vsomnibus
1.0

A large vehicle that carries many people along a set route

is the older literary or historical term for that vehicle
coach
vsomnibus
75 1.3

A large comfortable vehicle like a bus or long train carriage

is the historical literary term for the general public transport vehicle
double-decker
vsomnibus
5 3.4

A bus or vehicle with two levels for passengers, one above the other

is a historical or literary name for the general public transport vehicle
motorcoach
vsomnibus
  • US
1 3.9

A large comfortable bus that carries many people on long journeys

is instead a historical or literary name for ordinary public transport vehicles
autobus
vsomnibus
  • Archaic
1 2.9

A large vehicle that carries many people on a set route

is the older literary or historical word rather than the modern term
motorbus
vsomnibus
  • Archaic
2.7

A large vehicle that carries many people on roads as public transport

is the older literary or historical name, not the current technical label
charabanc
vsomnibus
  • Archaic
9.9

A large old bus with seats in rows used for group day trips

is a literary or historical word for regular public transport rather than excursions

How Large

omnibus
  • Archaic
1 9.9
coach
75 1.3
minibus
4 2.7
car
1.0
motorcycle
275 2.3

Surface Forms

omnibus singular
omnibuses plural

Etymology

Omnibus was used for an early public vehicle because the Latin form omnibus meant 'for all', so it was a carriage meant 'for all' people. That is also why the shorter word 'bus' comes from omnibus.