sometime English · revision 7265

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=before 1100}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsʌmˌtaɪm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English sum tim, from late Old English sumtīma, formed from [[some]] and [[time]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) SOED notes that it was formerly spelled with a space.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ At one time or another: late Old English in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) at a certain time in the past, once, 1297 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ At an indefinite future time is from the late 14th century (1340 in the OED, ''at one time or another, with the possibility of'').^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In former times, formerly, is from about 1330 and obsolete.^(OED 1989) The adjective, former or late, at one time, is late 15th-century, as in ''the sometime president''.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) ''A sometime thing'', something occasional or unreliable, is from 1935.^(OED 1989) Middle English also had sumtide (early 14th century).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late Old English – at one time or another.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1297 – once (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – at some future time.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – former (adjective).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1935 – a sometime thing.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # At some unspecified or unknown time: ''call me sometime''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Former: ''the sometime mayor''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' Occasional: ''a sometime contributor''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sometimes]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sooner or later]]

+ * [[some]]

+ * [[time]]

+ * [[anytime]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ It should not be confused with [[sometimes]], occasionally; the phrase for a period of time is written with a space.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}