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# or

«or» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **Or gives a choice between two or more things: tea or juice?** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

conjunction

### meaning for a pupil

1) Or gives a choice between two or more things: tea or juice? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#m1)

2) Or means if not, otherwise: Hurry, or you'll be late. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#m2)

3) Or can give another word for the same thing: a joey, or baby kangaroo. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#m3)

4) «Either … or» gives exactly two choices; «whether or not» means in either case. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#m4)

5) (casual) «Or what?» at the end pushes a question: «you coming or what?»; «or something», «or whatever» mean roughly, I'm not sure. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#m5)

6) (rough) «Or else!» at the end is a threat: «Give it back, or else!» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#m6)

7) (formal) The exam voice says «alternatively», «otherwise», «failing which», «or, equivalently», «either … or …», «respectively». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#m7)

### sense in the lessons

In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah it joins choices or lists, often in laws, such as "or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed." Interpretation: Laws often use "or" to list every case a rule covers, so no case is left out. In the primary lessons: choosing between two possibilities («Do we add or subtract?»); in everyday life choices («now or later?»), warnings («wear a hat or you'll get burnt»); «more or less» (about), «or so» (about); in maths «either … or», «is it odd or even?»; in casual talk «or what?», «or something»; in rough talk «or else»; in the exam voice «alternatively», «failing which», «either A or B»

### examples

- or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed, (Torah LEV.21.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x1)
- Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. (Torah EXO.22.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x2)
- Know now whether it is thy son's coat or not.' (Torah GEN.37.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x3)
- Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? (Writings JOB.8.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x4)
- Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, (Writings JOB.38.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x5)
- Or where were the upright cut off? (Writings JOB.4.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x6)
- First decide: are things coming together, or going away? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x7)
- Do we add or subtract? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x8)
- Do you want an apple or a banana? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x9)
- Is 15 odd or even? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x10)
- Put on sunscreen, or you will get sunburnt. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x11)
- You can draw a cat, a dog or a horse. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x12)
- We will be there in ten minutes or so. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x13)
- A baby kangaroo, or joey, lives in its mum's pouch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x14)
- are you thick or what, it's 12 [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x15)
- Give my ball back, or else! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x16)
- there's like 20 kids or something [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x17)
- Indicate whether the integer 15 is odd or even; failing which, no credit shall be awarded. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x18)
- "Are you awake or asleep, One-Eye? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/#x19)

### note

No operation clue. Trap: «2 or 3 apples» is an estimate, not 5 apples; «20 or something» and «10 minutes or so» are about, not exact. «or else» is a threat or a bluff, and «or what?» is pushing, not a real choice. Do not mix «or» with «oar» (a paddle for a boat) and «ore» (rock with metal): they sound the same.

### In the corpora

- [And the man looked stedfastly on her; holding his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.641/)
- [Know now whether it is thy son's coat or not.'](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1212/)
- [And Judah said: 'What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves?](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1454/)
- [My lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother?](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1458/)
- [And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/EXO.594/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «or» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/or/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.