Okay (or
OK, O.K.) is the most versatile colloquial English word.
As a noun (I
need your OK) it means approval.
As an
adjective (Lunch was OK) it means acceptable.
As an
adverb (We did OK) it means adequately.
As a verb (Can
you OK this for me?) it means consent.
As an
interjection (Ok. I´ll do that) it means compliance, agreement (Shall we go?
OK.) or great enthusiasm (OK!.) by using the appropriate voice tone.
The most
widespread of all English words can also be used as a filler of space (Ok, can
I have your attention, please?) or to seek confirmation (Is that OK?)
The Origin
of OK
According
to Bill Bryson (Mother Tongue The English
Language, Penguin 1990) it became fashion in Boston and New York as a comic
misspelling of Oll Korrect (OK) apparently used by President Andrew Jackson´s
bad spelling. Coincidentally in 1840
supporters of President Martin Van Buren (Andrew Jackson´s protégé) founded an
organization to help his campaign The
Democratic O.K. Club. O.K. stood for Old kinderhook, a nickname for the
democratic candidate who was a native of Old Kinderhook, New York.
Vote for OK sounded better than his Dutch name…
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