Main Entry:

¹once

Pronunciation:

\ˈwən(t)s\

Function:

adverb

Etymology:

Middle English ones, from genitive of on one

Date:

12th century

1 : one time and no more <rode a horse only once> 2 : at any one time : under any circumstances : ever <didn't once thank me> 3 : at some indefinite time in the past : formerly <was once a booming mining town> 4 : by one degree of relationship <first cousin once removed>

— once and for all

1: with finality : definitively2: for the last time

— once in a while

: now and then