(a) One time only (as opposed to two or more times), once; on one occasion; ~ or twies, once or twice, from time to time, occasionally; (b) with qualifying phrase: ~ a dai, ~ in (of, on) the dai, once a day; ~ ilk a dai, ilk dai..~, once each day; ~ in the weke (yer), once a week (year); ~ o (in) the weke dai, one day a week; ~ in fourte-night (a month), once a fortnight (month); ~ a (in a, in the) yer, once a year; eche quarter (yer) ~, once each quarter (year); everi daie (weke, fourte-night, yer) ~, once every day (week, fortnight, year); in ilk month ~, once in each month; ~ in five (a thriti) yer, once every five (thirty) years; (c) arith. one times (another number); ~ thre, one times three.

(a) Ever, once, at all; under any circumstances, at any time; only, just [quot.: c1400(?c1380)]; (b) with negative: ne (not, nought, etc.) ~, not at all, never; never ~, ~..never, never once, never at all; (c) in a conditional clause: if ~, if ever, if at all; (d) with ppl.: ~ shamed, once shamed; ~ received, once received; etc.

(a) At one time in the past, on one occasion, once; formerly, before; ~ on (upon) a dai, ~ on a time, once upon a time; as ~ and twies, as once and twice before; (b) at some time in the future, on a future occasion, some day; ~ er midnight, some time before midnight; ~ in mi lif, once in my life; (c) at once, immediately, straightway.

(a) Once more, once again; yet →, yet once more; ~ ayen; ~ more; (b) emphatically: for once; once and for all; ~ and eft, once and again; ~ for ai (ever), once and forever; ~ in al his lif, in his lif..~, for once in his life.

As noun: (a) that ~, that one time, on that one occasion; (b) in phrases: at ~, q.v.; for then (this) ~, to than ~, for that purpose, for the nonce; bi ~, by a single action; ?also, for once [quot.: a1400 Þi wyckede dedis]; for ~ and ai (ever), for ~ euer and ai, for once and for all; from ~ that, from the time that.

As adj.: al ~, in agreement, of one mind.

As conj.: when once, if once, once that; also in elliptical expressions: ~ frend, once (you have a) friend; ~ metal, once (it is) metal.