wont
nounadjectiveverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//wʌnt//
- United Kingdom//wəʊnt//
- United Kingdom//wɒnt//
- United States//wʌnt//
- United States//wɑnt//
Accustomed or used (to or with a thing), accustomed or apt (to do something).
noun
- 1
archaicOne's habitual way of doing things; custom, habit, practice.
He awoke at the crack of dawn, as was his wont.
[T]hey [Spartan youth] are by a ſudden alarum or watch-word, to be called out to their military motions, under ſky or covert, according to the ſeaſon, as was the Roman wont; […]
[…]when Sindbad the Seaman had related the history of what befel him in his sixth voyage, and all the company had dispersed, Sindbad the Landsman went home and slept as of wont.
Such conditions, having been the common practice for years, and, existing in a less degree in some localities to the present time, afford a tangible reason for a form of correlation that is more universal than it is the wont of the profession to admit; namely, that with the laity, dentistry and "the pulling of teeth," and the dentist and "the tooth puller," are very closely related subjects […]
Etymology
From Middle English wont, from Old English ġewunod, past participle of ġewunian (“to be accustomed to, dwell”), the noun sense possibly arising via conflation of wone (“custom, habit, practice”) and the adjective wont. Compare German Low German Gewohnte (“custom, habit”), Dutch gewoonte, Swedish van. Likely related to wone, wonder, wean, and win.
adjective
- 1
Accustomed or used (to or with a thing), accustomed or apt (to do something).
He is wont to complain loudly about his job.
This is the ſuteltie of Satan, who vnder the shew of godly matters, deceaueth the vnaduyſed, as we are wont to ſay, that in the honye lyeth hidden the poiſon.
[…] I haue not that Alacrity of Spirit, / Nor cheere of Minde that I was wont to haue.
On ſome fond breaſt the parting ſoul relies, / Some pious drops the cloſing eye requires; / Ev'n from the tomb the voice of Nature cries, / Ev'n in our Aſhes live their wonted Fires.
Etymology
From Middle English wont, iwoned, from Old English ġewunod, past participle of ġewunian. Cognate with German gewohnt and Dutch gewend.
verb
- 1
archaicTo make (someone) used to; to accustom.
I have heard it remarked by the old farmers, that when beasts are first transferred from one place to another, that if they keep them without food for two or three days, it will go far towards wonting them to their new situation.
- 2
archaicTo be accustomed (to something), to be in the habit (of doing something).
What be the ſweet delights of learning a treaſure, / That wont with Comick ſock to beautify / The painted Theaters, and fill with pleaſure / The liſtners eyes, and eares with melodie; […]
But by record of antique times I finde / That wemen wont in warres to beare most ſway, / And to all great exploites them ſelues inclind: […]
Etymology
From Middle English wonten (“to accustom”), from wont (adjective). See above.
Forms
- plural
- wonts
- past tense
- wonted
- past participle
- wonted
- present participle
- wonting
- third person singular
- wonts
wont · Accustomed or used (to or with a thing), accustomed or apt (to do something).
woo · To endeavor to gain someone's affection or support.Woo · A surname from Chinese.wood · The substance making up the central part of the trunk and…