Othello was one of William Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, and the title character is a MOOR, which is why the crossword solution for the term 'OTHELLO WAS ONE' is MOOR. Othello is a powerful general in the Venetian army who is manipulated by his ensign Iago into believing his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful. The play ends tragically with Othello killing Desdemona and then taking his own life.