ore

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a monetary subunit in Denmark and Norway and Sweden

   100 ore equal 1 krona

2. 2
   noun

   Rock or other material that contains valuable or utilitarian materials; primarily a rock containing metals or gems for which it is typically mined and processed.

   They general­ly occur in the earth in what are called veins, and are seldom found in the pure metallic state, but generally in combination with some other substance, in which state they are call­ed ores.

3. 3
   noun

   A unit of currency used in England around the 10th to 12th centuries.

   In the time of Æthelred the Unready when the pound contained 240 pence, the ore was reckoned at 16 pence, but in earlier times there was probably much variation.

4. 4
   noun

   A type of fine wool, especially of the type historically produced in the market town of Leominster, Herefordshire.

   But then the ore of Lempſter / By Got is never a Sempſter; / That when he is ſpun, ore did, / Yet match him with hir thrid

5. 5
   prep

   Obsolete form of over.

   When I behold the violet paſt prime, / And ſable curls or ſiluer'd ore with white: […]

6. 6
   noun

   a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined

7. 7
   noun

   Seaweed, especially that which is washed up ashore.

8. 8
   noun

   Alternative form of öre.

Etymology

From Middle English or, oor, blend of Old English ōra (“ore, unwrought metal”) and ār (“brass, copper, bronze”), the first a derivate of ear (“earth”), the second from Proto-West Germanic *aiʀ, from Proto-Germanic *aiz, from Proto-Indo-European *áyos, h₂éyos. Compare Old Norse eir (“brass, copper”), German ehern (“of metal, of iron”), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌶 (aiz, “ore”); also Dutch oer (“ferrous hardpan; bog iron ore”). Compare Latin aes (“bronze, copper”), Avestan 𐬀𐬌𐬌𐬀𐬵 (aiiah), Sanskrit अयस् (áyas, “copper, iron”).