See Also:

often (iou)



often adverb & adjective. ME.
[Extended from OFT, prob. after selden SELDOM.]
A. adverb. Many times; on numerous occasions; frequently; at short intervals; in many instances; in cases frequently occurring. ME.
as often as not in (about) half the instances. every so often: see EVERY adjective 1. many a time and often: see TIME noun. more often than not in more than (about) half the instances. once too often: see ONCE adverb etc..
H. James Oftenest..he wished he were a vigorous young man of genius. Day Lewis I am often assumed to be Welsh. F. Chichester Through this voyage I had been..changing the sails more often. E. Bowen Francis..often either lay down or took a short walk. E. Figes I heard about it often enough.
B. adjective. Done, made, happening, or occurring many times; frequent. arch. LME.
Carlyle The greatest and oftenest laugher. W. D. Howells I knew those lemons..from often study of them.
oftenly adverb (rare) = OFTEN adverb L16-M18.
oftenness [-n-n-] noun (now rare) the fact or condition of occurring often; frequence: M16.
oftens adverb (long obsolete exc. dial.) [-S3, later identified with -S1] = OFTEN adverb M16.