wont English · revision 7767

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1325|origins=ang ġewunod}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /wəʊnt/, US /wɔːnt/, /woʊnt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English wont, wunt, earlier iwoned,^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|ġewunod]], contracted, the past participle of wunian, to dwell, be accustomed,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023) from Proto-Germanic *wunēn, to be content, rejoice,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) cognate with Old Saxon wunon, Dutch [[m|nl|wonen]] and German [[m|de|wohnen|t=to dwell]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Watkins derives it from PIE [[ine-pro|*wen-|t=to desire, strive for]], also the root of [[win]] and [[wean]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Accustomed, in the habit of: before 1325, in the ''Cursor Mundi'';^(Barnhart 1988) iwoned probably about 1175.^(Barnhart 1988) Old English wunian is from before 899.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, habitual custom, is from the 14th century,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) rare before the 16th,^(Hoad 1986) perhaps a conflation of ''it is my wone'' (Old English ġewuna, custom) and ''I am wont''.^(Hoad 1986) ''Use and wont'' is an old phrase.^(OED 1989) The verb, to make accustomed, is from the mid-15th century (about 1440),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to be accustomed from before 1547 (the 1540s).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Compare [[wonted]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – iwoned.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1325 – wont.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 14th century – the noun.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1440 – to accustom (verb).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(formal)'' Accustomed or likely: ''he was wont to come early''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(formal)'' Customary practice or [[habit]]: ''as is his wont''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To make or become accustomed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wontless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wonted]]

+ * [[win]]

+ * [[wean]]

+ * [[wish]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ An unrelated Oxfordshire wont meant to yoke animals.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}