[i]"Olm" is a Vitruvian invocation of respect to a particular spirit or deity, perhaps best loosely translated as "I see what is laid before me."  It is a simultaneously an acknowledgement of a god's hand in a matter, recognition of the trial or lesson they present, a statement of understanding that they could probably crush you like a bug if they so wished and, dependent on the situation, a certain fatalistic tinge of "oh, this shit again."  The Viitru have had to make this invocation so often in the course of their migration that it has gradually condensed to a three-letter word.

The notable exception to the phrase is any invocation to Da'at, in which case "Olmo" is preferred, or "I do not see what is laid before me."  Scholars of the culture agree that veneration of Da'at is just plain weird and probably more trouble than it was worth.
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