† unseldeadv.
Obsolete.
= unseldom adv.Only in phrases with oft: cf. Old Norse oft úsjaldan.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > [adverb]
unseldea950
oftOE
thickOE
ylomeOE
oftsithec1175
oftsithesc1175
lomec1200
oftlya1225
oft-stounds1303
continuallyc1305
oftena1325
rifely1357
oft-timesc1384
oft-timec1387
oftentimesa1393
oftentimec1395
fele-sitha1400
lightlya1400
oftentide?a1400
rifea1400
seresitha1400
many a foldc1400
often sithec1405
hauntinglyc1440
by many a foldc1450
fele-syss1489
frequently1531
feltymesc1540
oftens1567
oftenly1574
frequent1614
repeatedlya1647
(as) often as not1723
more often (or oftener) than not1723
not uncommonly1747
not infrequently1779
(at) every whip-stitch1824
oftenwhilesa1850
at short intervals1859
a950 Laws Edw. & Guthrum Prol., in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) I. 166 Þa witan eac..oft & unseldan þæt seolfe geniwodon.
c967 Canons of Edgar Prol., in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 278 Mislice men agyltað oft & unseldon þurh deofles scyfe.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2313 Oft and vnselde Of triamour tok he pray.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.a950