OE
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Otitis externa |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical, Writing & Everyday, Business & Finance |
OE has three meanings. The most common are Otitis externa (ophthalmology & ENT) and Old English (grammar and dictionary); it can also stand for Open enrollment.
Meanings of OE at a glance
| # | OE stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Otitis externa | Medical › Ophthalmology & ENT |
| 2 | Old English | Writing & Everyday › Grammar and Dictionary |
| 3 | Open enrollment | Business & Finance › Human Resources |
1. Otitis externa
Medical · Ophthalmology & ENT Abbreviations
Inflammation and infection of the outer ear canal, commonly called swimmer's ear, usually caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus after water exposure or minor trauma. Pain when the outer ear is pulled or the tragus is pressed is typical.
Example: Acute OE left ear after swimming, tragal tenderness, canal edema; ofloxacin drops BID 7 days.
Topical antibiotic drops are first-line, and oral antibiotics are generally unnecessary for uncomplicated cases. A wick may be placed when the canal is very swollen. Necrotizing (malignant) otitis externa, a dangerous bone infection, affects older adults with diabetes or weakened immunity. Often written AOE for acute otitis externa.
2. Old English
Writing & Everyday · Grammar and Dictionary Abbreviations
Names the earliest recorded form of English, spoken in England from about the 5th century to the 12th century and also called Anglo-Saxon. Dictionaries cite OE forms in etymologies, as in "from OE hus."
Example: house (n.) from OE hūs, related to Old Norse hús and German Haus
Old English was highly inflected, with grammatical gender and case endings, and modern readers cannot understand it without study. Its best-known literary work is the epic poem Beowulf. The language changed sharply after the Norman Conquest of 1066, giving way to Middle English.
3. Open enrollment
Business & Finance · Human Resources Abbreviations
Annual window when employees can enroll in, change or drop benefits such as health, dental, vision, FSA and life insurance for the coming plan year. Outside this window, changes generally require a qualifying life event.
Example: OE closes November 15, and if you do nothing your current elections roll over.
Employer open enrollment usually runs for two to four weeks in the fall for January plans; FSA elections often must be renewed actively. The ACA marketplace has its own open enrollment period, which on HealthCare.gov has generally run from November 1 into mid-January.
Related abbreviations
More ophthalmology & ENT abbreviations
- NPDR – Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
- NTG – Normal-tension glaucoma
- OAE – Otoacoustic emissions
- OCT – Optical coherence tomography
- OM – Otitis media
- OME – Otitis media with effusion
- PACG – Primary angle-closure glaucoma
- PCO – Posterior capsule opacification
See all 74 ophthalmology & ENT abbreviations →
More grammar and dictionary abbreviations
- NP – Noun phrase
- obj. – Object
- obs. – Obsolete
- occas. – Occasionally
- OED – Oxford English Dictionary
- OF – Old French
- ON – Old Norse
- orig. – Originally
See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.