oscitance
- noun
- /ˈɑːsɪtəns/
- Archaic
:
oscitancia
- During the lecture, his frequent oscitance signaled that he was drowsy and uninterested.
Examples
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Uncontrollable oscitance in the meeting made it hard for anyone to focus.
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The physician noted an increase in oscitance among patients who reported poor sleep.
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During the lecture, his frequent oscitance signaled his boredom to the speaker.
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His oscitance during the lecture was noticeable.
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The teacher asked if anyone had experienced oscitance.
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The physician observed that an increase in oscitance among patients often indicated insomnia.
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Her constant oscitance in class made it difficult for her to keep up with the material.
Synonyms
33
1.0
An automatic wide opening of the mouth and a deep breath when you are tired or bored
12
1.0
A deep breath taken with the mouth wide open because of being tired or bored
A state of feeling sleepy often shown by yawning
How Drowsy
Surface Forms
Morphology
oscitance = oscitate (opaque) = oscit + ance
Although formed with the productive suffix -ance from the verb 'oscitate', both the base and the root are very rare and unfamiliar to a typical B1 learner, so the meaning is not reliably inferable.
Etymology
Oscitance comes from the Latin word oscitare, which means 'to yawn' or 'gape', so imagine someone opening their mouth wide; that's why oscitance means the act of yawning or being drowsy and inattentive.