I. ˈwən(t)s adverb
Etymology: Middle English ones, anes, from gen. of on, an one — more at one
1. : one time and no more : just one time : one time only
visited her father once a month
spoke to her once and didn't see her again
have read it only once
2.
a. : at any one time : in any possible contingency : under any circumstances whatsoever
don't once let them know
couldn't once succeed in doing what was asked
b. : at all : only , merely , just
if you thought about it once , you'd see I'm right
c. : ever
if they once lose hope, their failure is certain
didn't once guess the truth
— usually used in negative or conditional clauses
3.
a. : at some indefinite time in the past : at one time : formerly
once knew her well, but had now forgotten her name
was once very happy
b. archaic : at some indefinite time in the future : at some future time : someday
4. obsolete
a. : one time for all times : once and finally : once and for all
if I have him not, I am resolved to die a maid, that's once — John Dryden
b. : in short : in a word : by way of summing up
5. : by one degree of relationship
is a cousin once removed
lives a life only once removed from that of animals
6. dialect — used as a vague sentence expletive especially in imperative constructions
come here once
hand me that hammer once
•
- once and a while
- once and for all
- once in a way
- once in a while
- once upon a time
II. adjective
: that once was : former
the once province of Britain — J.N.Pomeroy
III. noun
( -s )
: one single time : one sole time
thought it was only the once — Anne D. Sedgwick
please listen to me just this once
: one time at least : one time by way of exception
for once you seem to know what I'm talking about
•
- all at once
- to once
IV. conjunction
also once that
: when once : if once : at the moment when : as soon as
once the job is finished, we'll have nothing to worry about
once that he finds you, you'll have to be careful