Ope

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A term used primarily in dialectal English to express the action of opening something or creating a gap
2. An exclamation or verb variant indicating the act of making space or opening up, often used in a colloquial context
3. Denotes the action of causing an opening or revealing something previously closed or hidden

Etymology: Ope is a verb meaning to open up space, and its origin is a neat piece of sound play. Speakers pronounce "oh" with the lips snapping shut at the end, which gives a faint extra "p" sound. That excrescent "p" was then treated as part of the word, so "oh" became "ope," a form that is really just "oh" with a trailing "p" added. Its other root is "open," which the word shortens. Ope is generally treated as a shortened form of "open," so the word is a clipped version of one of the most familiar verbs in English, now used mostly in poetry and literary writing.

Synonyms: open, uncover, unseal, unfold, unclose

Antonyms: close, shut, seal, cover, clasp