- often
- often (adv.) c.1300, extended form of OFT (Cf. oft), originally before vowels and h-, probably by influence of M.E. selden "seldom." In common use from 16c., replacing oft.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
often
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often — often, frequently, oft, oftentimes may be used with little or no distinction to mean again and again in more or less close succession. But often stresses the number of times a thing occurs, without regard to the interval of recurrence; frequently … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Often — Of ten, a. Frequent; common; repeated. [R.] Thine often infirmities. 1 Tim. v. 23. [1913 Webster] And weary thee with often welcomes. Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
often — In current English this is more usually pronounced with the t silent. The comparative forms oftener and oftenest are permissible, although more often and most often are more commonly used … Modern English usage
often — (also archaic or N. Amer. oftentimes) ► ADVERB (oftener, oftenest) 1) frequently. 2) in many instances. USAGE The comparative and superlative forms oftener and oftenest are not incorrect, but are rarely used now in British English, the more usual … English terms dictionary
Often — Of ten ([o^]f n; 115), adv. [Compar. {Oftener} ([o^]f n*[ e]r); superl. {Oftenest}.] [Formerly also ofte, fr. oft. See {Oft}., adv.] Frequently; many times; not seldom. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
often — index chronic Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
often — [adv] frequently again and again, a number of times, generally, many a time, much, oftentimes, ofttimes, over and over, recurrently, regularly, repeatedly, time after time, time and again, usually; concept 541 Ant. infrequently, rarely, seldom … New thesaurus
often — [ôf′ən, äf′ən; ôf′tən, äf′tən] adv. [ME var. of OFT] many times; repeatedly; frequently adj. Archaic frequent … English World dictionary
often — of|ten W1S1 [ˈɔfən, ˈɔftən US ˈo:f ] adv [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: oft] 1.) if something happens often, it happens regularly or many times = ↑frequently ▪ She often works at the weekend. ▪ If you wash your hair too often, it can get too dry. ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
often — of|ten [ ɔfn ] adverb *** 1. ) on many occasions or in many situations: Often, students with family problems have difficulties at school. Boredom often leads to bad behavior. The home is often the most likely place in which someone is injured.… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
