Once (?), adv. [OE. ones, anes, an adverbial form fr. one, on, an, one. See One-, -Wards.]
1. By limitation to the number one; for one time; 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. &fist; 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.
Once (?), n.
(Zoöl.) The ounce.
Hear it pronounced