| 释义 |
onceadv.conj.adj.n. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: ene adv., -s suffix1. Etymology: Originally < ene adv. + -s suffix1; subsequently remodelled after the genitive of one pron.The α forms continued in use in the south till at least 1500; the β and γ forms are infrequent before c1300, from which time the γ forms are found only in northern England and Scotland. The word remained disyllabic in some dialects until the 15th cent., but in others was reduced to a monosyllable early in the 14th cent., thus avoiding voicing of final -s after unstressed vowels. From about the early 16th cent., final unvoiced -s began to be spelt -ce (compare hence adv., pence n., fence n., ice n., mice , plural of mouse n., twice adv.). The regional forms with -st follow the pattern seen in, e.g. against prep., conj., adv., and n. On the pronunciation history see discussion s.v. one adj. Compare also the 19th-cent. Scots forms aincin and aince-en, also in sense ‘once’. These suffixed forms may have been influenced by expressions such as aince in a day, aince on a time, etc., and by firsten first, firstly (see further discussion in Sc. National Dict. s.v. aincin adv.). A. adv. I. Simple adverbial uses. 1. the world > time > particular time > [adverb] > at any time or whenever the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > on one occasion > once only the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > only one > [adverb] > once OE lxxxviii. 36 Semel iuraui in sancto meo : ænes ic swor on minum halgan. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) iv. xlix. 338 Soðlice þa se broður þas word gehyrde ænes, he þa gyt forhtode mid micclum ege, & eac swylce oðere nihte he wæs gemanod mid þam ylcan wordum. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 1078 Þatt wass aȝȝ æness o þe ȝer. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 109 (MED) The sunne..arist anes a dai. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 3288 Ilke dai..Ones he ðor it sungen rigt. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 7716 (MED) Þer nas so heymon non þat him enes [v.r. ones] wiþ sede. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 121 Sche ete but ones a day. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 25744 Noght ans allan, ne tuis. ?c1450 tr. (1906) 85 The king sent vnto her onis, tuyes, thries. 1481 W. Caxton tr. (1970) 6 A man shal not wyth ones ouer redyng fynde the ryght vnderstandyng. 1534 R. Whittington tr. Cicero i. sig. E.3 The acte of Themystocles dyd profyte but ones. 1581 W. Lambarde (1588) iv. v. 491 The Bissextile (or Leepe yeere) which hapneth once in every foure yeeres. 1584 A. Barlowe in R. Hakluyt (1589) iii. 729 The King himselfe..was shotte in two places through the bodye, and once cleane thorough the thigh. 1606 Sir G. Goosecappe i. iii, in A. H. Bullen (1884) III I never innd in the Towne but once. 1651 T. Hobbes i. xi. 47 The object of mans desire, is not to enjoy once onely, and for one instant of time; but to assure for ever, the way of his future desire. 1683 D. A. 110 They..think much and twice, before they speak once. 1721 R. Palmer Let. 15 Apr. in M. M. Verney (1930) II. xxiv. 86 In the Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun holidays, our penny post comes but once a day. 1767 D. Garrick 11 May (Davey's Catal.) I took it with me and have read it more than once. 1790 D. Collins (1798) I. 139 They took to the woods, having more than once or twice robbed their companions. 1824 ‘A. Singleton’ 66 Fish~fries are held about once in a fortnight. 1881 H. James xviii. 139 I think I will see him, then... It will be only once, for the present. 1922 V. Woolf ii. 23 Those who have lived all their lives in the same village, only leaving it once to fight in the Crimea. 1984 M. Amis 170 And get this. I'm only going to say it once. 2002 Mar. 15/1 He had only ever used it [sc. the Byzantine style] once before, in 1865, for a monstrance for St Francis, Pottery Lane. the world > time > particular time > [adverb] > at one time or on one occasion the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > on one occasion lOE (Laud) anno 1120 Ðises geares com þet leoht to Sepulchrum Domini innan Ierusalem twiges, ænes to Eastron, and oðre siðe to Assumptio sanctae Marie. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 37 Enes et þam fulhtbeda..oðer siðe..et soð scrifte. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 3871 Ones he smot ðor on ðe ston, And miste and sag ðe water gon. An-oðer siðe he went is ðogt Betre and softere, and ne miste nogt. 1464 in W. H. Stevenson (1883) II. 375 Ridyng..oons to Morley, an oþer tyme to Leycestre. 1629 J. Gaule 281 They once stroue to cast him down vpon the stones. 1814 J. Austen III. xv. 283 If I have spoke once to Rebecca about that carpet, I am sure I have spoke at least a dozen times. View more context for this quotation 1874 L. Troubridge Jrnl. 29 Oct. in (1966) 97 I am glad to say some new evening gowns were ordered... If I have worn that old black once I have worn it a hundred times. 1954 ‘M. Cost’ 250 If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times. 1994 C. Grant ix. 101 He never listened to me, you know. I told him once, I told him a hundred times to stay home.., but he never listened. 1999 T. Parsons (2000) xv. 127 If you can do it once, you can do it a thousand times. 2. the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] > once or at some former time c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 5374 He sette himm æness onn an munnt..& mikell follc wass þær wiþþ himm..forr to takenn hæle att himm Off iwhillc unntrummnesse. a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) 183 in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 171 (MED) Enes [a1225 Digby Ones] drihten helle brec, his frond he ut brochte. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 14635 Ænes an ane tide an cniht þer com ride. c1380 (1879) 5040 (MED) Wolle ȝe lordes..þe ryche relyqes eft-sones y-se, þat y ȝow schewede ones. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. iii. 334 A lady þat redde a lessoun ones. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) 14606 (MED) The fox..Maade hym oonys as he wer ded. a1500 (?a1450) (BL Add. 9066) (1879) 153 It fille ones that an Erle of a ferre countre..come to the Emperour. 1551 W. Turner sig. A iv Absinthium is named..in English wormwode..I suppose that it was ones called worme crout. 1611 Gal. i. 23 That he..now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. View more context for this quotation a1660 J. Evelyn anno 1645 (1955) II. 324 The once mighty Capüa..now nothing but an heape of rubbish. 1678 J. Bunyan 213 He told me once, That he was resolved to go on Pilgrimage as we do now. View more context for this quotation 1711 R. Steele No. 154. ⁋1 You are still what I myself was once. a1771 T. Gray Jemmy Twitcher in (1782) lii. 40 When she died, I can't tell,—he once had a wife. 1864 J. Bryce ix. 164 The once famous doctrine of divine right. 1891 28 Feb. 122/2 Onect I had a liggerin' match along with a gentleman as liked liggerin'. 1915 W. Cather ii. iii. 174 Wunsch had been a musician once, long before he wandered into Moonstone. 1960 C. Day Lewis i. 16 When this became known in the Queen's County, he once told me, and not till then, the hospitality of the Anglo-Irish landowners was extended to him. 1993 23 Mar. c18/5 The once all-embracing Top 40 format has fragmented into recognizable subdivisions. 2001 July 51/2 She once received an electric shock while vacuuming. the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] > once or at some former time c1380 (1879) 418 (MED) Onys..oppon a day..he slow kynges three. c1385 G. Chaucer 2388 Thee ones on a tyme mysfille, Whan Vulcanus had caught thee in his laas. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 478 þen tyd it anes on a tym a lytill terme. 1566 T. Drant tr. Horace x. Once on a tyme, a Greke poeme I dreamed to indite. 1591 A. Fraunce i. i. ii. sig. C Once on a time when Nymphs and Pastors chaunc't to be sporting, [etc.] 1595 G. Peele sig. B1v Once vppon a time there was a King or a Lord, or a Duke. a1632 T. Dekker (1636) iii. i Cannot you begin a tale to her, with once upon a time there was a loving couple [etc.] 1671 A. Behn 'Twas such another Damsel As this, that sav'd me 500 pound once upon a time. 1692 R. Bentley ii. 37 The Modesty of Mythology deserves to be commended... 'Tis once upon a time, in the Days of Yore, and in the Land of Vtopia. 1710 J. Swift 6 Once on a time a western blast, At least twelve inches over~cast. 1786 R. Burns Twa Dogs i, in 9 Twa Dogs..Forgather'd ance upon a time. 1843 C. Dickens i. 5 Once upon a time—of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve—old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. 1873 R. Browning ii. 24 Man worked here Once on a time. 1876 R. E. Francillon in Oct. 423 There is all the difference between ‘Daniel Deronda’ and ‘The Mill on the Floss’ that lies between Now and Once upon a Time. 1927 S. Southwold (title) Once upon a time stories. 1959 22 Jan. 164/2 The horse-drawn chaises of once upon a time. 1974 J. Wainwright 173 The talk between two middle-aged has-beens about once-upon-a-time days. 2002 June 41/3 Once upon a time hobby was a generic name for an Irish-bred horse. 3. the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [adverb] > in any contingency or under any circumstances the world > time > particular time > [adverb] > at any time or whenever > at any one time the world > existence and causation > occurrence > future events > [adverb] > when ever or if ever the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [adverb] > if in any circumstances a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 61 (MED) Ne muȝen heo nefre ufele swinken, ne for men enes hit bi-þinken. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1981) 44 Ah nes þear nan þet mahte neauer eanes wrenchen hire, wið al his crefti crokes, ut of þe weie. a1250 (?a1200) (Nero:Morton) 234 Nolde heo neuer enes bisechen ure Louerd þet he allunge deliurede hire þerof. a1325 (c1280) (Pepys 2344) (1927) 1616 (MED) Þine armes were wyde ystreyt, þine hondes y-nayled ffaste, Þat þou ne miȝttest in al þi wo to þin heued ones caste. a1375 (c1350) (1867) 195 (MED) Alle ledes him louede þat loked on him ones. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) 3975 We may it not ageyn calle, Whanne onys sprongen is a fame. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 187 A ston callede Asbeston, whiche accendede oonys is neuer extincte. 1523 J. Fitzherbert iii. f. 3 After the statute be ones declared. a1535 T. More (1553) iii. xxiv. sig. T.vii I feare me when I here once that vrchin bitche bark, I shal..forgeat altogether. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. Matt. xviii. 91 He shall not once be receiued into the Kyngdome of heauen. 1611 M. Smith in Transl. Pref. 1 It was made a capitall crime, once to motion the making of a new law. 1651 Lady E. Douglas 22 This man never once charged with Oath, other then truly and verily. 1710 J. Swift (ed. 5) Apol. The Reflecter..forces Interpretations which never once entered into the Writer's Head. 1762 O. Goldsmith I. 70 When once all the extent and the force of the language is known. 1795 M. Edgeworth 61 If once their pupils begin to reflect upon their own hood-winked education. 1847 C. Brontë III. i. 31 When once I had pressed the frail shoulder, something new—a fresh sap and sense—stole into my frame. 1883 Oct. 772/2 Though she never once lifted her beautiful head from the paper, she shot a single swift glance..in the direction of the house. 1901 E. Wallace 98 If he once gives fight, makes a stand, and brings the whole of his force into action, then pas op, De Wet! 1936 R. Lehmann i. ii. 42 I don't know how she does it. I haven't seen her fussed once. 1972 F. Swinnerton II. viii. 46 He knew that if once Valerie discovered aversion for him she would be lost for ever. 2001 8 June ii. 16/4 I sat across from you for six months and you never once noticed me. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [adverb] > in any case a1715 Bp. G. Burnet (1724) I. 320 Yet, it was thought necessary, that the Prince should be once at the head of their armies. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet (1724) I. 407 The King seemed to insist..that he would once have a peace made. society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > conciseness > [adverb] > in short c1384 Hebr. (Douce 369(2) x. 10 In which wil we ben halewid by the offring of the body of Crist Jhesu oonys. c1450 C. d'Orleans (1941) 48 Onys let me pese, y pray thee hertily. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) 1142 (MED) Make it onys wel & nevir no more ageyne. 1596 T. Nashe To Rdr. sig. D3 This is once, I both can and wilbe shut presently of this tedious Chapter of contents. 1602 R. Carew i. f.60 Once certayne it is, that few men of Law, haue..growne heere to any supereminent height of learning. 1629 P. Massinger ii. i. sig. E2v Would you would dispatch and die once. 1675 W. Wycherley iii. 34 Therefore I wou'd see first some sights, to tell my Neighbours of. Nay, I will go abroad, that's once. 1872 S. S. Haldeman 57 Bring me a chair once. 1886 98 Well, thick [rabbit]'s vull grow, once! 1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard 113 I don't once..think as you'll catch un. 1903 S. Clapin 294 Once,..in parts of Pennsylvania settled by Germans, used as an expletive: ‘Sit down once,’ i.e. once for all. 1916 4 338 ‘Come here once’..among German settlers. 1953 28 246 Will you hand me that hammer once? 1978 M. Kalibabky 2 Nancy, come here once..lemme fix dat hem on yer dress. the world > time > relative time > different time > [adverb] > at some future time or one day a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. 1490 (MED) He..in his fader half besoghte..That..He wolde..yive a time in the cite, So that his fader mihte him gete That he wolde ones with him ete. ?c1450 tr. (1906) 44 Synne, of the whiche ye shall yelde onis acompte of. 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) ii. 64 I promytte you ye shall ones repente for it. a1500 tr. La Belle Dame sans Mercy (Cambr.) 557 in F. J. Furnivall (1903) 101 (MED) Ones must it be asaied..with such as be of reputacioun. 1563 J. Foxe 980/2 You may if it please God be once old as I am. 1618 R. Brathwait To his Brother in E. Farr (1848) 267 That ill which now seems ill, may once prove good. 1691 J. Dryden v. i. 45 Britons and Saxons shall be once one People. 1700 W. Congreve ii. i. 17 To refuse the sweets of life because they once must leave us..is as preposterous, as to wish to have been born Old, because we one Day must be Old. a1825 R. Forby (1830) Once, adv. at some time or other. 1876 A. D. Whitney vi. 70 And once—that sweet word which brings all to the blessed focus and point of promise—once, we shall find them together. the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > firstness > [adverb] > in the first place 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. Auth. Pref. 1 Ones the contynuall redyng therof maketh yonge men equall in prudence to olde men; and to olde fathers..it mynystreth experyence of thynges. a1626 F. Bacon (1630) Ep. Ded. sig. A2 Your Maiesty is in a double respect the life of our lawes: once, because without your authority they are but litera mortua; and againe, because [etc.]. society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > [adjective] > by specific degree 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. vii. xiii. 162 With his nine children..with seven and twentie nephewes, the sonnes of his children, and nine and twentie nephewes more, once removed, who were his sonnes nephewes. 1650 N. Ward 4 Which is cosen german to it once remov'd. 1653 G. Ashwell 76 Irenæus, the Apostles Scholer but once removed. 1732 W. Darrell (ed. 10) 11 Few are in love with Cross-bars, and to be brother to a by-blow is to be a bastard once removed. 1869 A. Trollope I. xv. 121 His own first cousin once removed still held the paternal acres at Finn Grove. 1883 6 Dec. 174/1 A condition only once removed from the lower animals. 1931 O. Nash Let. 17 Feb. in (1990) 157 Extracts from reviews, in which you find that you are engaged—oh, very unofficially and distantly—my fiancée once removed, sort of—but still engaged, to a supreme wagster. 1977 R. Ludlum xxxix. 429 Assassination teams... It was all once removed, divided secretly inside the bureau. No one knows how far it went. 1992 Feb. 50/1 The elegant birds-eye maple writing table which is a second cousin once removed to a low-slung cherry coffee table. 2002 (Nexis) 25 Oct. [Her mother's] other colourful descendants include President Richard Nixon (Queen Geraldine's eighth cousin once removed). a1690 S. Jeake (1696) i. i. iv. 15 These places are distinguished into Degrees, and Periods. Degrees are three; Once, Ten times, a Hundred times. 1705 tr. W. Bosman 291 The Stock of these Trees, if they deserve that name, grow to once and a half or twice Man's height. a1924 J. Conrad (1926) 101 Nothing can beat a, say, 1400-ton ship, designed so as to have a dead weight carrying capacity of about once and a half her registered tonnage. 1992 Jan. 79/2 All eight circulate once and a half, grand right and left. II. Preceded by a preposition or demonstrative. [Arising from its equivalence to one time: compare German einmal.] the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > on one occasion the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > only one > [adverb] > for once the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > on one occasion > once only OE Homily (Junius 121) in (1972) 13 1000 Nu wille ic for anes faran to iudeum. a1450 (Westm. Sch. 3) (1967) 35 (MED) Þe ȝates schul be loken for ones & euere. ?a1475 (1922) 110 I the for-sake and from þe go, ffor onys, evyr, and Ay. 1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin i. 3 Not..for once and away, but wee haue our eares beaten with it euery day. 1601 B. Jonson i. i. sig. B3 Go to, you shall come, and let your Muses goe spinne for once . View more context for this quotation 1640 tr. G. S. du Verdier ii. 67 Nor is a man to put on arms for once, and ever after to let them hang ignobly rusting. 1758 O. Goldsmith tr. J. Marteilhe II. 113 We entreated him to risk it for once. 1791–3 in (1799) I. 43 Awake from your lethargy, Citizens, and decree, for once and all,..that [etc.]. 1825 S. T. Coleridge 218 Let me remark for once and all [etc.]. 1869 L. M. Alcott II. xii. 186 Jo, walking in the garden with Beth, for once understood music better than her sister. 1896 I. T. Thurston iv. 39 ‘Henderson, is that true?’ demanded Gordon sternly... For once, Henderson absolutely looked ashamed of himself..as he said sulkily, ‘Yes, 'tis.’ 1916 E. H. Porter xviii. 233 See here, boy, for once, if ye can, talk horse-sense! 1956 C. P. Snow xii. 69 She felt it so primally that for once she gave up thinking of her husband's health. 1995 18 Feb. 104/1 The encryption for electronic cash systems..may have what amounts to a universal key, and so might be cracked for once and all. the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > on one occasion > once only c1400 (?c1380) (1920) 801 Comez to yor knauezkote I crave, at þis onez. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 64 (MED) Þai ete bot anes on þe day..and ȝit þat anes þai ete bot riȝt lytill. 1533 J. Heywood sig. A.ii That I may beate her for this ones [rhyme bones]. 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione ii. sig. N.iii Yet will we so terme it for thys once. 1603–25 Successors of Edw. IV in T. E. Evans (1784) II. xxv. 152 But when the duke of Buckingham..Began a quarrel for the once. 1611 Judges xvi. 28 I pray thee, onely this once, O God. View more context for this quotation 1662 G. Torriano 118/1 To whine and lament ones misfortune, of being short of money, and that for the once, for to prevent any body that should offer to borrow. 1758 C. Lennox II. iv. vii. 169 You shall be indulged this once. 1760 I. i. viii. 72 She had not time to put on her gloves, but danced that once without them. 1822 P. B. Shelley (1852) II. 278 I think he might as well have favoured me this once. 1887 T. Darlington ‘A thing for the once’..is an unusual or unprecedented thing. 1924 A. D. Sedgwick i. viii. 74 ‘He came twice afterwards.’.. ‘I didn't know that. I thought it was only the once.’ 1955 L. P. Hartley xxxi. 280 On most occasions, and from most people, Isabel was pleased to hear Harold praised; but for this once she wasn't. 1990 R. Doyle (1993) 146 Maybe I will if you're goin' to get into fights all the time.—No, Sharon, Jimmy Sr assured her.—It was just the once. 2002 8 Apr. 96/3 Just this once, could you get off your asses and help? B. conj. When once, if once; as soon as. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) 434 (MED) Metalle ons metalle shal not more encrese. 1612 J. Brinsley xxi. 248 Once gotten, they were easily kept by oft repetition. a1639 T. Dekker et al. iii. iii. 530 'Tis done; and I am in: once past our height, We scorn the deepst Abyss. 1664 K. Philips xxxiii. 96 Once within the Presence-chamber door, We do despise whate're we saw before. 1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in (new ed.) 436 The Word obscene, Or harsh, which once elanc'd must ever fly Irrevocable. 1791 A. Yearsley iv. 64 Trust this guideless tumult to thy friends; Once quell'd, this charm of confidence shall bind The ardent soul of Goodwin to his King. 1831 M. W. Shelley (rev. ed.) xviii. 133 Once commenced, it would quickly be achieved. 1872 W. Black viii. 112 Once past the turnpike, the highway runs along an elevated ridge. 1876 T. Hardy I. v. 65 'Tis a bother to start her, so our people say behind her back, but, once set going, the house is all alive with her. 1903 J. London iv. 116 Once out of the harness and down, he did not get on his feet again till harness-up time in the morning. 1938 Jan. 63/3 Once started, it spreads rapidly, rooting as it goes. 1981 H. Secombe i. 17 Once inside he bolted the door. 2000 May 16/3 Once set free a neutron spontaneously decays into three distinct particles. the world > time > relative time > immediacy > immediately [conjunction] > as soon as c1475 tr. C. de Pisan (Cambr.) (1977) 53 (MED) A laumpe..sholde at no tyme be lefte vnlyght..by cause that onys it was not attendid with oyle, it happed to be quenchid.] 1747 S. Richardson I. xvii. 106 No peremptoriness, Clary Harlowe! Once you declare yourself inflexible, I have done. 1761 F. Sheridan I. 337 This was the master-key..and once I had got it,..it was easy to unlock her breast. 1775 R. B. Sheridan iv. iii Once I have stamped it there, I lay aside my doubts for ever. 1813 T. Moore (1853) I. 334 Once I get it brilliantly off my hands, we may do what we please in literature afterwards. 1864 R. Browning 293 Will he give up fire For gold or purple once he knows its worth? 1874 J. Ruskin IV. xxxix. 67 Once that they were pulling together..Hansli put himself to say. 1927 12 Oct. 208/2 Once the greater part of the population is pummeled night and morning in underground cattle-cars..I shall be surprised if there is any energy left. 1953 M. Traynor 202/2 Once that, when, as soon as. 1988 Apr. 4/2 Once the SABS Council has approved a proposal.., a technical committee prepares a draft specification. 2000 No. 7. 74/1 Once you are confident with using the Internet, shopping will be a piece of cake. C. adj. ( attributive). the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adjective] > one-off or that cannot be repeated the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > only one > [adjective] > done only once 1548 E. Gest sig. Cviii Then is ye once sacrifice of Christ utterly to be abandoned and disauthorized. 1739 J. Tull (1740) 223 Once Harrowing is generally enough. 1878 W. de W. Abney (1881) 167 Once coating is generally sufficient. 2. the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] 1620 iv. ii. sig. H2v Magnanimous Ladie, maruell not, That your once Aduersary do's submit himselfe To your vnconquer'd beautie. 1691 J. Wilson iii. i The once generalissimo. 1766 R. Griffith & E. Griffith IV. 222 But should the Heart, it's once Ally, By Falshood, or by Death decay. 1842 W. Howitt xviii. 464 Is this bare and almost featureless Country the once abode of Goethe, Schiller, Wieland, and Herder? 1880 R. Broughton II. ii. x. 91 Nothing remains but for the once enemies to say farewell. 1979 A. Hecht (1980) i. 7 The once queen who liked to play at milkmaid. 1989 N. Cave i. x. 61 The haunted faces of the once faithful hovered like so many blaked and unhappy moons. 1992 A. W. Eckert xi. 677 With the aspect of a craven dog that had been severely whipped, the once Prophet slunk from the wegiwa and disappeared outside. 1958 T. H. White ii. x. 295 Do you know what is going to be written on your tombstone? Hic jacet Arthurus Rex quondam Rexque futurus. Do you remember your Latin? It means, the once and future king.] 1975 N. Austin 220 Never has Odysseus been more awake than when discussing himself with his once and future wife. 1994 16 Jan. b10/1 The once and future monarchs of freestyle mogul skating. 2002 (Nexis) 26 July d5 Bigelow reconfirms her status as Hollywood's once and future queen of action cinema. D. n.the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [noun] > quality of happening or doing only once 1579 B. Garter sig. Div Once is no custome. 1623 J. Wodroephe (1625) 336 Once is no Custome. 1673 E. Ravenscroft i. i I ner'e saw him but twice in my Life; but once is enough to know what he is. 1817 S. Beazley 11 Once is enough, my grave cousin. 1881 H. James xviii. 134 ‘Have you written to him?’ ‘Yes, four times.’ ‘You have not dismissed him, then. Once would have done that.’ 1904 H. James I. x. 189 Once is enough. Enough, that is, for one to be kind to her. 1970 ‘B. Mather’ v. 60 Once is funny, twice is cheeky. 1994 D. Healy (1995) 94 That's enough out of ye, once is enough, Catherine, for me to tell ye. 1814 F. Burney II. iv. xxx. 236 I have never above twice or thrice, perhaps, in my life, been more ashamed! And once was when I was so unfortunate as to burn a gentleman's stick. 1900 L. F. Baum xii. 146 Twice already the Wicked Witch had used the charm of the Cap. Once was when she had made the Winkies her slaves. 1967 S. Terkel vii. 168 Twice in my lifetime I cried to her over the phone. Once was when I had my sixth [child]. 1987 N. Sibal 39 She seldom emerged from these rooms. Once was when Kailash Kaur sat in the deorhi, dressed and ready for her wedding. Phrasesthe world > time > frequency > [adverb] > anew or again the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > two > fact of being second > [adverb] > for a second time, again lOE (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1131 Nu him behofed þæt he crape in his mycele codde in ælc hyrne gif þær wære hure an unwreste wrenc þæt he mihte get beswicen anes Crist & eall Cristene folc. a1382 Judges (Douce 369(1)) xvi. 18 Steȝe ȝee vp ȝit onys, for now to me he haþ openyd his herte. a1384 2 Macc. (Douce 369(2)) iii. 37 The kyng axide Helyodore, who was able ȝit oonys for to be sente to Jerusalem. a1450 (?a1300) (Caius) (1810) 4881 That they scholden hye Ones more forth..To the cyte off Palestyn. c1475 (1969) 819 (MED) What, aske mercy ȝet onys agayn? 1535 1 Kings xviii. 34 Do it yet once. And they dyd it once agayne. 1567 (1897) 157 For I had leuer die For hir saik anis againe. 1568 i. i. sig. Aiij Therfore haue at it, once more will I blow my Horne. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. ii. 1 Heere once againe we sit: once against [1664 againe] crown'd. View more context for this quotation 1662 Duchess of Newcastle Matrimonial Trouble i. iii. xxv, in 439 I will read this Letter once again, although it shakes my Soul, and makes me almost mad. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil 553 There let 'em build, and settle if they please; Unless they chuse once more to cross the Seas. 1709 R. Steele No. 6. ⁋9 They are once again forced to give ground. 1768 T. Gray Descent of Odin in 91 Once again my call obey. a1809 H. Cowley Day in Turkey Prologue in (1813) II. 245 Now once again she trusts to witness here, Your smile of pleasure, and your pity's tear. 1865 E. B. Pusey 268 [To] be merged in the Eighth General Council of the once-more united Christendom. 1903 R. Kipling 104 Duly with knees that feign to quake—Bent head and shaded brow,—Yet once again, for my father's sake, In Rimmon's House I bow. 1920 D. H. Lawrence xvi. 354 ‘Ah,’ said Pancrazio, ‘I am glad there is a woman in my house once more.’ 1953 G. Vidal (1968) I. iii. 53 He paused impressively, once again master of the dialogue. 1976 R. Massey xxiii. 196 I felt sure I was fit to serve once more with the guns. But the M.O. who examined me was dubious. 2002 Feb. 118/1 Enix is dipping into the archives once again to bring us their biggest and best old-school update yet. the world > time > frequency > [phrase] > more than once ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 57 Forto ondswerened hire þurl eanes oðer twiȝen. a1400 (Pepys) (1976) 27 Ȝif ȝe han..Gestes, doþe ȝoure seruaunt in stede of ȝou gladen hem; And forto vnsperre ȝoure þirle ones or twies and makeþ signes toward hem of glad chere. c1450 ( G. Chaucer 665 But God wolde I had oones or twyes Ykoud and knowe the jeupardyes. a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 18 If eny suche be onys or twies amonisshed. 1575 G. Turberville 150 If your Falcon do stoupe them, and enewe them once or twice. 1597 Bp. J. King xlviii. 643 By the words of his mouth once and againe iterated. 1611 Phil. iv. 16 Euen in Thessalonica ye sent once and againe [c1384 Wycliffite, E.V. oonis and twyes also] vnto my necessitie. View more context for this quotation 1688 R. Holme iii. 266/2 Trust..not..the Borrower if once or twice he hath cracked his Credit. 1730 in B. Peirce (1833) 166 Inasmuch as the affair..has been once and again maturely considered by this Board. 1766 O. Goldsmith I. ix. 84 They once or twice mortified us sensibly by slipping out an oath. 1816 W. Scott III. ix. 191 Oldbuck walked once or twice up and down the room in profound thought. 1858 A. Trollope I. ii. 32 Once and again..a lad may be found formed of such stuff. 1906 J. London All Gold Canyon in 153 He stole across the tiny meadow, pausing once and again to listen. 1971 S. Howatch (1972) v. ii. 561 I saw him once or twice and had a drink with him. 2001 J. Boyle 85 Once or twice I've played him at bools or chessies on the same bit of wasteground. P3. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > the end [phrase] > as a final act or once for all a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) 9696 (MED) He þat ys..baptysed, Ones for euer ys. a1450 ( G. Chaucer ii. §3 9 Take this manere of settyng for a general rule ones for evere. 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) xix. 403 We oughte to aske it of hym ones for all. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart II. xxxvii. 110 Ones for alwayes I defende the. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus f. 275v Once for altogether. 1611 Heb. x. 10 By the which will wee are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all . View more context for this quotation 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini 100 These Judges have cleared the question once for ever. 1660 R. Boyle 213 Give me leave to advertise Your Lordship once for all. 1709 G. Berkeley §120. 138 I do therefore, once for all, desire whoever shall think it worth his while, to understand what I have written concerning Vision, that [etc.]. a1722 J. Toland (1726) I. 25 Let it be noted once for all, that..t and d are commonly put for each other. 1778 D. Garrick 30 Oct. (1963) III. 1252 Mr Garrick begs once for all that Mr Miles will not imagine that he wishes him to decline any thing which may produce him any Emolument. 1818 J. Bentham 115 So far as use is made of a once-for-all composed and for ever-established formulary. 1861 C. Dickens I. xvii. 273 Well then, understand once for all that I never shall or can be comfortable..there. 1908 L. M. Montgomery xviii. 204 I assure you once for all that I did not mean to intoxicate Diana. 1991 J. Caldwell I. vii. 406 It defined once for all the characteristic flavour of the English madrigal. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > the end [phrase] > as a final act or once for all 1814 W. Scott I. v. 54 I beg pardon, once and for all, of those readers..for plaguing them so long with old-fashioned politics. View more context for this quotation 1856 J. A. Froude (1858) I. v. 398 To bring the matter to a close once and for all. 1895 W. Morris & A. J. Wyatt tr. x. 23 E'en that in mind had I.., that for once and for all the will of your people would I set me to work. 1914 E. R. Burroughs xxvii. 372 Let us understand each other once and for all. 1949 2 87 The only primitive wholeness that the Reformed Churches recognise is the once-and-for-all wholeness of Jesus Christ in whom God and man are at one. 1996 R. Mistry (1997) v. 223 Please understand once and for all—if you forget something we can always mail a parcel. 2000 M. Beaumont 102 If I return to find another unsolicited e-mail.., you will find my patience has snapped once and for all. the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] 1547 A. Borde ii. f. xv Madnesse that doth infest a man ones in a mone the which doth cause one to be geryshe, and wauerynge wytted, nat constant, but fantastical. 1607 T. Dekker (1842) 25 She would haue trickes (once in a moone) to put the Diuell out of his wits. 1707 E. Ward 17 Once a Moon perhaps he invites some Marine Lieutenant to taste of his Bounty. 1732 S. Baron Descr. Tonqueen in VI. xii. 27/1 He himself comes hardly once in a moon to court. 1818 Nov. 207/1 He urged Nurtado to take his lovely spouse, at least once in a moon, to renovate her constitution with the salutary fruit. ?1566 W. P. tr. C. S. Curio f. 107v The olde rule: he that is once a false knaue, it is maruell if euer he be honest man after.] 1613 H. Parrot sig. N2v Well you may change your name, But once a Whoore, you should be still the same. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán i. ii. i. 7 Once a knaue, and euer a knaue:..For he that hath once beene naught, is presumed to bee so still. 1696 iv. i. 30 ‘I'll do so no more.’ ‘Not till next time; once a Villain, and always so.’ 1705 P. A. Motteux iii. 58 Once a Captain and always a Captain. 1766 W. Kenrick iv. iv. 50 As to the matter of knighthood; once a knight and always a knight, you know. 1804 H. H. Brackenridge i. i. 1 He had gone by the name of Captain ever since; for the rule is, once a captain, and always a captain. 1852 W. Bagehot (1879) I. 69 Pope unfallaciously said, ‘Once a heretic, always a heretic’. 1883 R. C. Leslie ix She may have been a pleasure-yacht in her day, but can never be so again, for once a spratter, always a spratter. 1913 22 Feb. 13/3 Up in the reformatory, though, they laughed at me. ‘Once a crook, always a crook!’ said these lads. 1948 6 Sept. 24/1 ‘Once a Commie, always a Commie’. 1993 M. Atwood xli. 304 She was once a Catholic, though, and once a Catholic, always a Catholic, according to her mother. 2002 June 85/2 Once a bird lover, always a bird lover, as they say. the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > on one occasion > once only 1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin xc. 422/1 Our Lord..is not contented to haue spoken once and away, but putteth vs often in remembrance of the things that we haue once heard. 1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin i. 3 Not..for once and away, but wee haue our eares beaten with it euery day. 1744 R. North & M. North 40 This was one of his once-and-away Entertainments, with which he said a Man might sometimes gratify himself; a Person that is very brisk and airy, can scarce settle close to Business, until he hath an Excursion or two. 1759 J. Mills tr. H. L. Duhamel du Monceau i. ix. 52 It is not enough to harrow once and away. 1816 W. Scott III. vii. 143 These great men use one's house and their time as if they were their own property. Well, it's once and away. 1841 74 110 Fretting at corruptions, yet once and away helping to patch up one himself. 1885 J. Payn vi When a man has just once and away made up his mind to self-sacrifice. the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > [adverb] > once more than necessary or tolerable 1742 H. Fielding I. ii. ix. 226 Adams began to fear he had struck him once too often . View more context for this quotation 1823 J. F. Cooper II. xi. 165 It seems, that you've shot once too often, for the story goes that you've killed a buck. 1840 J. Smith 245 To listen to the self-same dunce, At the same leaden table, once Per annum's once too often. 1869 ‘M. Twain’ xl. 420 He has lain down once too often. He must die. 1921 G. B. Shaw iii. 131 Havnt you said that once too often already this morning? 1934 E. O'Neill ii. 68 But I warned him he'd humiliate me once too often—and he did! 1972 N. Smythe in E. Berman (1979) 113 I was a bit too fond of the old jar, Went on the skite once too often. 2001 9 Dec. ii. 37/1 Comedy clams are jokes that you've heard once too often. 1751 E. Haywood II. x. 117 I have been bit once, and have made a vow never to settle upon any woman while I live, again. 1806 R. Hunter III. 254 My wife says that the Captain is very fond of her, and if all be gold that glitters, I am to believe that he doats upon her; but once bit twice shy, is the maxim uppermost with me, when the Captain is concerned. 1849 17 Nov. 2/5 (advt.) I am addressing men who having been ‘once bitten are twice shy’, who remember to their cost that seven Scotch companies had the wind knocked out of their sails in the short period of about three years. 1887 15 Jan. 65/2 ‘Once bit, twice shy’, is an excellent proverb. 1899 A. West xiii Once bitten twice shy. I have tried one gentleman and will never try another. 1949 ‘S. Sterling’ xv She was especially on her guard..because she'd been victimized in a stupid swindle herself, recently. Once burned, twice shy, you know. 1990 C. Amory iii. 148 Once bitten, I was not only twice shy—I was permanently so. 2002 21 Apr. iv. 5/1 (heading) Once Bitten, Twice Shy: A World of Eroding Trust. the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > sometimes or occasionally 1765 J. Otis 4 The picture is very well charged with shade and thick darkness..and once in a while is heard a little rumbling thunder. 1781 J. Witherspoon in 23 May 1/3 He will once in a while, i.e. sometimes, get drunk. [Used in] the middle states. 1815 J. H. Payne Trial without Jury in (1940) V. 10 It does me good to bustle and fly into a rage once and a while. It keeps me in exercise. 1869 H. B. Stowe x. 116 If he could come down here once and a while after work-hours. 1877 C. H. Spurgeon XXIII. 653 Hadst thou gone into the royal presence once in a while to intercede for some special cases. 1913 22 Feb. 45/2 Once in a while he also meets some New Yorker who has been as far inland as Trenton, New Jersey. 1956 2 Apr. 12 (advt.) The little luxuries that every family likes to indulge in once in a while. 1983 J. Kosinski ii. 21 Once in a while she would sit with me in the garden. 2001 May 17/3 I guess that means you can start sleeping again soon..maybe even get to go home once in a while? the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > on one occasion > once only 1769 J. Cook July (1893) 93 This method of Tattowing I shall now describe... As this is a painful operation, especially the Tattowing their Buttocks, it is performed but once in their Life times.] 1838 H. W. Longfellow Jrnl. 26 Mar. in S. Longfellow (1886) I. xix. 282 The great wonder-flowers bloom but once in a lifetime; as marriage and death. 1874 M. Collins III. xviii. 271 That delicious unrecordable nonsense which some people fancy can only be talked once in a life-time. 1908 W. B. Yeats & Lady Gregory iii. 122 There is a fiery moment, perhaps once in a lifetime, and in that moment we see the only thing that matters. 1994 Summer 29/2 Catching a 50 pounder is the holy grail of every dedicated bassman, who hopes and prays to manage the feat once in a lifetime. 1933 15 Oct. ix. 3/6 El Brendel was engaged for three pictures, the first, ‘Once Over Lightly’, with Zasu Pitts and Pert Kelton. 1939 C. De Zemler (title) Once over lightly: the story of man and his hair. 1941 12 May 55/1 Her pretty posturing, pouts, stunned, exotic stares are meaningless when she tries to do them once over lightly. 1961 at n. Had given political problems the once-over-lightly. S. Arne. 1967 M. Kenyon i. 16 The young man raised the egg... Was it sunny-side-up..or once-over-lightly? 1997 June 4/2 For those of you who want to know more about the new F&SF editor, here's a once-over lightly bio. 2002 (Nexis) 12 Oct. 35 While the latter [television programme] was enjoyable enough, it was essentially a once-over-lightly spin round the coast. Compounds1621 M. Wroth i. 110 A cruell Steward you are to inrole My once-good dayes, of purpose to controle With eyes of sorrow. 1668 J. Denham Passion of Dido in 137 Thereon his Arms and once lov'd Portraict lay, Thither our fatal Marriage-bed convey. 1713 A. Pope 14 Beside him, once-fear'd Edward sleeps. 1726 A. Pope tr. Homer V. xxiv. 328 The glory of this once-fam'd shore. 1809 T. Campbell iii. xxxvii Seek we thy once-loved home? 1835 II. 223 Virtue is taking her leave of our once-moral, once-English nation. 1893 Duke of Argyll x. 285 A once-wide acceptance. 1939 D. Thomas 6 These once-blind eyes have breathed a wind of visions, The cauldron's root through this once-rindless hand. 1951 W. de la Mare 38 Once-green skeleton leaf. 1977 J. Cleary v. 135 The once-beautiful eyes, already dark with death. 2000 Sept. 33/1 Once-beautiful shotgun houses and quaint cornerstones are rotting from neglect. C2. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > clay compositions > baked clay > pottery or ceramics > [adjective] > fired in specific way 1946 G. M. A. Richter i. 32 The evidence favors the theory that Greek pottery was oncefired, like most ancient wares, not twice-fired. 1995 3 Apr. 21/2 Her work was once-fired and raw-glazed—which is to say that the pot was thrown and slip and glaze applied to the unbaked clay before it entered the kiln. 2002 (Nexis) 3 Apr. (Southside Community World section) Her studio..features a plethora of once-fired pottery pieces. 1889 W. Westgarth 83 Tying up the freedom of building which a once-for-all construction of this kind might involve. 1951 W. H. Auden (1952) 14 The once-for-all that is not seen nor said. 1977 12 Feb. 7/3 Try not to let the once-for-allness of the occasion tempt you to eat the whole menu. 1997 5 Mar. 29/7 Nearly all of this is the once-for-all J-curve effect of yen devaluation. 1949 2 86 A radical misunderstanding of the New Testament teaching about eschatological once-for-allness and eschatological continuity. 1958 30 Nov. 14/5 When you buy these once-in-a-lifetime contraptions do see that you get value for money. 2000 11 June 88/7 Coach Joe Box said that the team..was looking forward to the ‘once in a lifetime opportunity.’ 1931 A. Huxley 44 The pause and once-more fury of the gale. the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > only one > [noun] > thing which occurs only once the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > only one > [adjective] > occurring only once 1965 (Med. Res. Council) i. 8 But in a ‘once-off’ job where a standard program cannot be used..these advantages are lost. 1973 19 Jan. 12/1 50 different juvenile weeklies, aside from the ‘once-offs’ that appear from time to time. 1991 K. Maguire iii. 61 These were once-off recruits who were fleeing from the new governments in their former homelands. 2002 (Nexis) 25 Oct. The better than expected figure was due to a once-off change in the structure of Eskom's rates. the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > only one > [adjective] > occurring only once 1960 28 Feb. 12/8 It is, alas, a once-only gratuity. 1997 July 2/3 In a third bid to save the men, once-only suits and lifejackets were lowered in preparation for another winch operation. the world > matter > liquid > water > [adjective] > properties or characteristics of water > being or employing water that flows through once 1940 87/1 Benson boiler, a high-pressure boiler of the once-through type in which water is pumped successively through the various elements of the heating surface. 1978 (Shell Internat. Petroleum Co.) 2 Waste heat from chemical plants has traditionally been discharged in the form of once-through (as opposed to re-used) cooling water. 1999 96 3473/1 UOP's once-through zeolitic isomerization process. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  adv.conj.adj.n.OE |
