omnibuses

An omnibus is a vehicle used for public transportation, normally operating on fixed routes and schedules. The term also refers to a volume that collects multiple works by a single author or a series of related works. The word derives from the Latin omnibus, meaning “for all,” and was adopted into English in the 19th century to describe a shared public conveyance.

Historically, omnibuses began as horse-drawn coaches in the early 19th century. The first widely known service in London was established in 1829 by George Shillibeer, running between Paddington and the City. The concept spread to other cities in Europe and North America, evolving from horse-drawn to steam-driven and later electric-powered forms. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, internal-combustion engine omnibuses—modern motor buses—gradually supplanted horse-drawn vehicles, leading to the contemporary bus systems common in cities worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the term “omnibus” remained familiar in historical contexts, while “bus” became the everyday term for the vehicle.

In publishing, an omnibus edition compiles a long work or a sequence of works into a single volume, such as a complete novel, a collection of stories, or the entire set of a serialized publication. The plural form omnibuses is used in reference to multiple such editions.

Today, the word omnibuses is primarily used in historical or formal contexts for the vehicle, with most regions simply saying buses. In publishing, however, omnibus editions remain common for reprinting or collecting an author’s or series’ works.