once

A1 Topic:Grammar & Function Words

Also spelled onst and wunst

US /wʌn(t)s/ UK /wʌn(t)s/ See IPA manual

Freq #280

Meanings

1

adv
One single time.

I have only eaten pizza once.
2

conj
As soon as; after.

Once we are home, we can rest.
3

adv
At some time in the past; formerly.

He was once the most handsome man around.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · one single time. one time

2 conj · as soon as; after. as soon as

3 adv · at some time in the past;... formerly

More oncetwunstyance

Opposites

often thrice twice

Word family

Derived forms once-in-a-generationonce-in-a-lifetimeonce-offonce-over-lightlyoncenessoncer

Related forms frequencyonce-over

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.

ones Middle English ānes Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Grammar & Function Words Numbers & Quantity

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# once

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** adv, conj
**IPA (US):** /wʌn(t)s/
**IPA (UK):** /wʌn(t)s/
**Frequency rank:** 280

## Meanings
1. One single time.
2. As soon as; after.
3. At some time in the past; formerly.

## Examples
- I have only eaten pizza once.
- Once we are home, we can rest.
- He was once the most handsome man around.

## Synonyms
- oncet
- wunst
- yance

## Antonyms
- often
- thrice
- twice

## Derived Forms
- once-in-a-generation
- once-in-a-lifetime
- once-off
- once-over-lightly
- onceness
- oncer

## Related Forms
- frequency
- once-over

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ones
- Root: ānes

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Once comes 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”). The historical chain includes Middle English ones and Old English ānes. Modern senses include one single time and as soon as; after. The wider word family includes derivatives such as once-in-a-generation, once-in-a-lifetime, once-off, once-over-lightly, onceness, and oncer and related forms such as frequency and once-over.

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words
- Numbers & Quantity

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once

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