often English · revision 2320

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1250 (Genesis and Exodus)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɒf.ᵊn/, /ˈɒf.tᵊn/, US /ˈɑː.fᵊn/, /ˈɑːf.tᵊn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|often]], an extended form of [[oft]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Chambers 2008) probably influenced by its opposite, Middle English [[m|enm|selden|t=seldom]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004)^(SOED 2002) RHWU and Etymonline note that the Middle English form was used mainly before vowels.^(RHWU)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Many times, frequently: about 1250, in ''The Story of Genesis and Exodus''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The early examples seem to be from the north of England, and the word became general in the 16th century,^(NODE 1998) when it replaced ''oft'' in common use.^(Etymonline) From 1450 to 1530 it was also used as an adjective, “frequent”.^(OED 1989) The pronunciation without ''t'' is recorded from the 15th century.^(Etymonline) The phrases ''as often as not'' and ''more often than not'' are recorded from 1911.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – ''often'' (''Genesis and Exodus'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 15th century – pronounced without ''t''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1450–1530 – adjective, frequent.^(OED 1989)

+ * 16th century – replaces ''oft''.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+ * 1911 – ''as often as not''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Many times; [[frequently]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # In many cases.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[oftenness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oft]]

+ * [[oftentimes]]

+ * [[seldom]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary notes that the pronunciation with /t/ is sometimes called a spelling pronunciation, but there is no evidence that it is new.^(Roach et al. 2011) RHWU explains that ''often'' and ''frequently'' are mostly interchangeable, though ''often'' suggests many repetitions and ''frequently'' repetition at short intervals.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}