Oliver
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɑlɪvɚ/
ipa: /ˈɒlɪvə/
Forms: form: Olivers
Etymology: From Middle English Oliver, from Old French Olivier, by folk etymology derived from the Latin name Olīvārius, but probably representing an Old High German form of Old Norse Óleifr (“ancestral + relic”) (modern Danish Olaf and Swedish Olof), or Proto-Germanic *ala- (“all”) + *wēraz (“true”) (modern Swedish allvar). Name of a paladin of Charlemagne in medieval French romance.
Senses: examples: text: Froyſard, a Countreyman of ours, records, / England all Oliuers and Rowlands breed, / During the time Edward the third did raigne: […]
ref: 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 98, column 1:
text: "My name is Oliver, sir," replied the little invalid with a look of great astonishment. "Oliver," said Mr. Brownlow; "Oliver what? Oliver White,—eh?" "No, sir, Twist,—Oliver Twist." "Queer name," said the old gentleman. What made you tell the magistrate your name was White?"
ref: 1837 August, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “In Which Oliver Is Taken Better Care of than He Ever Was Before. With Some Particulars Concerning a Certain Picture.”, in Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], published 1838, →OCLC, page 187:
text: And Oliver suits me, don't you find? It rather goes with my dark, dark hair and kissable ivory teeth, my slim waist, my panache and my linen suit with the ineradicable stain of Pinot Noir.
ref: 1991, Julian Barnes, Talking It Over, Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 13:
glosses: A male given name from the Germanic languages.
examples: text: “I appreciate your curiosity,” Oliver answers in hurried monotone without inflection or pauses for punctuation.
ref: 2025 August 4, Dara Kerr, “Jim Acosta interviews ‘made-up’ AI avatar of Parkland victim Joaquin Oliver”, in The Guardian:
glosses: A surname originating as a patronymic.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in Canada:
A town in British Columbia.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in Canada:
An urban neighborhood of Edmonton, Alberta.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in Canada:
A community in Colchester County, Nova Scotia.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in Canada:
A community in Essex County, Ontario.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Scott County, Arkansas.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
A ghost town in Yuba County, California.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
A tiny city in Screven County, Georgia.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Edgar County, Illinois.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Whiteside County, Illinois.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Posey County, Indiana.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
A neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Kimball County, Nebraska.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
A census-designated place in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
A village in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
glosses: A placename
A number of places in the United States:
A number of townships, including in Michigan (2), Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania (3), included under Oliver Township.
examples: text: Now Oliver puts his blank nightcap on,¶ And every star its glim is hiding,¶ And forth to the heath is the scampsman gone,¶ His matchless cherry-black prancer riding;
ref: 1834, William Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, The Game of High Toby:
glosses: A placename
Synonym of The Moon. A moon in Earth, Solar System.
synonyms: word: The Moon
extra: A moon in Earth, Solar System
examples: text: The last device, the Oliver, was an innovative alternative to the various forms of small tilt hammers recorded and illustrated by Agricola.
ref: 2017, C. How, Building Histories: The Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Construction History Society Conference, page 81:
glosses: Alternative form of oliver.
Derived terms: Adams-Oliver syndrome
a Roland for an Oliver
Bath Oliver
Olicity
Oliver County
Oliverian
Oliver-McFarlane syndrome
Oliver Springs
Related terms: word: Moll
word: Noll
word: Oli
word: Ollie
word: Olly
word: Olivera
word: Olivette