oxen
n. plural-onlyn. large, strong male cattle that people train to pull heavy loads. They usually work in pairs on farms to pull carts or plows.
n. the plural form of 'ox'; refers to large, castrated male bovines trained as draft animals. Typically used in agricultural contexts involving traditional farming methods.
The farmer used two oxen to pull the heavy wooden cart.
Before the invention of the tractor, many farmers relied on teams of oxen to prepare their fields for planting.
The historical narrative describes how the pioneers' heavy wagons were hauled across the rugged mountain passes by teams of sturdy oxen, moving slowly but reliably through the mud.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *uksḗn Proto-Germanic *uhsô Proto-West Germanic *ohsō Old English oxa Old English oxan Middle English oxen English oxen From Middle English oxen, from Old English oxan, from Proto-West Germanic ohsan, from Proto-Germanic uhsniz, nominative and accusative plural of *uhsô (“ox”), equivalent to ox + -en (plural ending).
The plural form of 'ox'; takes plural verb agreement.
The farmer owned three oxes.The farmer owned three oxen.The word 'ox' uses an irregular plural ending in '-en' rather than the standard '-es'.