oxen
pronunciation
How to pronounce oxen in British English:
UK [ˈɒksən]
How to pronounce oxen in American English:
US [ˈɑksən]
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- Noun:
- domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
Word Origin
- oxen (n.)
- plural of ox, it is the only true continuous survival in Modern English of the Old English weak plural. OED reports oxes occurs 14c.-16c., "but has not survived."
Example
- 1. They 're as fit as oxen !
- 2. Slay all her oxen ; let them go down to slaughter .
- 3. They sacrificed oxen and sheep .
- 4. With you I shatter shepherd and flock , with you I shatter farmer and oxen , with you I shatter governors and officials .
- 5. For many weeks we had been accustomed to seeing horses and oxen suffering from heat , thirst and starvation .