again

again
again (adv.) late O.E. agan, from earlier ongean "toward, opposite, against, in exchange for," from on "on" (see ON (Cf. on)) + -gegn "against, toward," compounded for a sense of "lined up facing, opposite," and "in the opposite direction, returning." For -gegn, Cf. O.N. gegn "straight, direct," Dan. igen "against," O.Fris. jen, O.H.G. gegin, Ger. gegen "against, toward," Ger. entgegen "against, in opposition to."
In Old English, eft was the main word for "again" (see EFTSOONS (Cf. eftsoons)), but this often was strengthened by ongean, which became the principal word by 13c. Norse influence is responsible for the hard -g-. Differentiated from AGAINST (Cf. against) 16c. in southern writers, again becoming an adverb only, and against taking over as preposition and conjunction, but again clung to all senses in northern and Scottish dialect (where against was not adopted).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Again — A*gain (?; 277), adv. [OE. agein, agayn, AS. ongegn, onge[ a]n, against, again; on + ge[ a]n, akin to Ger. gegewn against, Icel. gegn. Cf. {Gainsay}.] 1. In return, back; as, bring us word again. [1913 Webster] 2. Another time; once more; anew.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Again — is the title of the following songs or albums: * Again (1949 song), recorded by many singers including Doris Day, Vic Damone and Vera Lynn * Again (1993 album), by Alan Stivell * Again (Alice in Chains song), by Alice in Chains * Again (2002… …   Wikipedia

  • Again — Single par Yui Sakakibara Face A Again Face B Beautiful day Sortie 25 octobre 2006 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • +Again — Manhwa Auteur Ko Jin Ho Éditeur Samyang Publishing …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Again — A*gain , Agains A*gains , prep. Against; also, towards (in order to meet). [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Albeit that it is again his kind. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • again — index anew, de novo Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • again — a|gain W1S1 [əˈgen, əˈgeın US əˈgen] adv [: Old English; Origin: ongean opposite, back ] 1.) one more time used when something has happened or been done before ▪ Can you say that again? I didn t hear. ▪ I ll never go there again. ▪ Mr Khan s busy …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • again — a|gain [ ə gen ] adverb *** Again is used in the following ways: as an adverb: I love that tune. Play it again. as a way of showing how a sentence is related to what has already been said: Tomatoes are easy to grow. But, again, they need to be… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • again — /euh gen , euh gayn /, adv. 1. once more; another time; anew; in addition: Will you spell your name again, please? 2. in an additional case or instance; moreover; besides; furthermore. 3. on the other hand: It might happen, and again it might not …   Universalium

  • again — See: COME AGAIN, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, NOW AND THEN or NOW AND AGAIN, OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN or ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN, SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN, THEN AGAIN, TIME AND AGAIN, YOU SAID IT or YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN …   Dictionary of American idioms

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