Middle English Dictionary Entry
often adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | often adv. Also ouften, offen. |
| Etymology | From oft(e adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Repeatedly, again and again, many times, frequently; also, under many circumstances, in many instances; as ~ as; oftener than ones.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)154 : Euere schinen ðo toknes brigt, And often giuen is on erðe ligt.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1215 : Sarra was ðor-fore often wroð.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.159 : Often þai seiden allas, & often þe smook of hym steiȝ vp wiþouten ende.
- ?c1350 Why werre (Peterh 104)p.25 : Now is non mysprowd squier..Bot he..swere by Godds sowle, And often vowen to God.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.3.4 : Þese thingys more often [L crebrius] þei seiden, & he wolde not heren.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1267 : We seken fast after felicitee, But we goon wrong ful often trewely.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.310 : A sergeant of the lawe..often [vr. oftyn] hadde been at the Parvys.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3218 : Ful often blessed was his murye throte.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3230 : Youthe and elde is often at debaat.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.502 : Often for defalte of bondes..A Tonne..Tobrekth.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1150 : Men may wel often fynde A lordes sone do shame and vileynye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219a/b : In þe northlonde men..hongeþ often þe reed in here dennes.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)3520 : A day, as he was oftin [Vsp: oft] wont, Bath fer and nere he was sohut.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)7699 : Often [Vsp: ofte] fel so þe chaunce was þere but goddes disturbaunce.
- (1415) Doc.Conspir.Hen.V in D.K.R.43590 : That greuosly hath ofendid oftener than ons.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.346 : Is named now..how often thei metten in bataille.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.212 : How often falleth al the effect contraire Of surquidrie and foul presumpcioun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.301 : Al seyde men soth as often as thei gabbe.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)27/6 : He hath often vntid hem & letted hem of her reste.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)67/3 : The erthe & the lond chaungeþ often his colour.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.50/19 : Twyes or thryes euery day, and sumwhyle moer oftynner, she was so I-tormentid.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)169/5 : I wolde spekyn to þe oftynar þan þu wilt latyn me.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)363 : Oftyne: Sepe, multocies, frequenter.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)47/8 : He was often gretly oppressid with his enemyes.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)68b : Oftener is hunger cause of victorie þan þe scharp yren.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)15.368 : I was Offen Abascht ful sore.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)121/11 : Þis herbe..wele make a man to pysse oftyn.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)131/29 : Eyn the qwyche be contynually halff closyd and offtyn speryd..sygnyffye euyl condycionnys off tecchys.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)226/19 : Such men happen to fallen in perel often.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)137/21 : Wen he [hunter] wenyt hyt be a hare, fuloftun..hit ys a heyghoge.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)27 : With oure Lord God oftin he spak.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)147/14 : Here may ye se what soddeyn adventures befallys ouftyn of arraunte knyghtes.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.50.34b : He calliþ þe wel ouften, wiþ His swete priue vois.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10952 : Of suche þing as þou hast nede, Labore þe oftener wiþ good spede.