or; possibly; maybe; perhaps
或 · 8 strokes
Depicts using a weapon (戈) to defend an area (囗) in a boundary (一). Based on the original meaning "area", now written as 域. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
者 · 8 strokes
Origin unclear. 耂, which is a pictograph of a tree with paper mulberry leaves (original form of 楮), represents the sound.