DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
once /ˈwʌn(t)s/
(ad.)一次,曾經,一旦(conj.)一旦,一經一次(a.)從前的
Once adv.
1. For one time; by limitation to the number one; not twice nor any number of times more than one.
Ye shall . . . go round about the city once. --Josh. vi. 3.
Trees that bear mast are fruitful but once in two years. --Bacon.
2. At some one period of time; -- used indefinitely.
My soul had once some foolish fondness for thee. --Addison.
That court which we shall once govern. --Bp. Hall.
3. At any one time; -- often nearly equivalent to ever, if ever, or whenever; as, once kindled, it may not be quenched.
Wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it once be? --Jer. xiii. 27.
To be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved. --Shak.
Note: ☞ Once is used as a noun when preceded by this or that; as, this once, that once. It is also sometimes used elliptically, like an adjective, for once-existing. “The once province of Britain.” --J. N. Pomeroy.
At once. (a) At the same point of time; immediately; without delay. “Stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once.” --Shak. “I . . . withdrew at once and altogether.” --Jeffrey. (b) At one and the same time; simultaneously; in one body; as, they all moved at once.
Once and again, once and once more; repeatedly. “A dove sent forth once and again, to spy.” --Milton.
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once
adj : belonging to some prior time; "erstwhile friend"; "our
former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her
quondam lover" [syn: erstwhile(a), former(a), once(a),
onetime(a), quondam(a), sometime(a)]
adv 1: on one occasion; "once I ran into her" [syn: one time, in
one case]
2: as soon as; "once we are home, we can rest" [syn: when]
3: at a previous time; "once he loved her"; "her erstwhile
writing" [syn: formerly, at one time, erstwhile, erst]