English Explanatory Dictionary

once

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. One and only one time.
  2. Formerly; during some period in the past.
  3. At any time; ever.
  4. One day, someday.
  5. Multiplied by one: indicating that a number is multiplied by one.
conj
  1. As soon as; when; after.
noun
  1. Obsolete form of ounce.
noun
  1. A fan of the Korean girl band Twice.

Pronunciation

wŭn(t)s /wʌn(t)s/ /wɒn(t)s/ en-us-once.ogg

Word forms

once onces

Etymology

From Middle English ones, from Old English ānes, a remodelling (after ān (“one”)) of ǣnes, itself an extension of ǣne (“once”) with the genitive suffix -es. Equivalent to one + -s. Cognate with Saterland Frisian enst, insen (“once”), West Frisian iens (“once”), Dutch eens (“once”), German Low German eens, ins (“once”), German einst (“once”). More at one (including regarding the development of the pronunciation) and -s.

Synonyms

once oncet yance wunst one time formerly immediately

Antonyms

four times often thrice twice

Related words

at once for once for once and for all measure twice and cut once not even once once again once more once and again once and away once and for all once for all once in a blue moon once in a purple moon once in a way once in a while once more into the breach once or twice once over once-over once removed once upon a time once you go black write once you only go around once you only go around once in life you only live once frequency

Derived words

Christmas comes but once a year don't spend it all at once fool me once for this once once a man, twice a boy once a man, twice a child once a woman, twice a child Once Brewed once-in-a-generation once-in-a-lifetime onceness once-off once on a time once-over-lightly oncer
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