once

UK /wʌn(t)s/ · US /wʌn(t)s/

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

formerly, once, oncet, yance, wunst

Antonyms

four times, often, thrice, twice

Derived terms

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, Oncer

Related terms

27 terms

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

Coordinate terms

twice, thrice, often, never, seldom, yesterday, tomorrow