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A.Word.A.Day--oust

oust (oust) verb tr.

To expel from a place or position.

[From Middle English, from Anglo-French ouster, from Old French oster, from Latin obstare (to stand in the way), from ob- (in the way) + stare (to stand).]

Even though the resemblance is strong, the words oust and out have no shared history (out comes from Old English ut). Here are two interesting cousins of oust: obstetrics and obstacle. -Anu

"The ouster of Ukraine's reform-minded Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko will deepen a political crisis in the country ..." Simon Saradzhyan, Kiev Crisis Won't Hit Russia Ties, The Moscow Times (Russia), Apr 30, 2001.

"(Treasury Secretary, Paul) O'Neill's habit of being out of the country during times of economic turmoil has led even some Republicans to call for his ouster." James Carney, et al, Inside the Mind of the CEO President, Time (New York), Aug 5, 2002.

This week's theme: false cognates (words that appear to be related but aren't.)

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