wont

¹

[ wawnt, wohnt, wuhnt ]

adjective

1. accustomed; used (usually followed by an infinitive):

   He was wont to rise at dawn.

   Synonyms: wonted

   Antonyms: unaccustomed

noun

1. custom; habit; practice:

   It was her wont to walk three miles before breakfast.

   Synonyms: use

verb (used with object)

, wont, wont or wont·ed, wont·ing.

1. to accustom (a person), as to a thing:

   That summer wonted me to a lifetime of early rising.

2. to render (a thing) customary or usual (usually used passively).

verb (used without object)

, wont, wont or wont·ed, wont·ing.

1. to be wont.

won't

²

[ wohnt, wuhnt ]

1. contraction of will not:

   He won't see you now.

won't

¹

/ wəʊnt /

contraction of

1. will not

wont

²

/ wəʊnt /

adjective

1. postpositive accustomed (to doing something)

   he was wont to come early

noun

1. a manner or action habitually employed by or associated with someone (often in the phrases as is my wont, as is his wont, etc)

verb

1. when tr, usually passive to become or cause to become accustomed

Usage Note

See contraction.

Other Words From

• wontless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wont¹

irst recorded in 1300–50; (adjective) Middle English wont, woned, Old English gewunod, past participle of gewunian “to be used to” ( won ² ); cognate with German gewöhnt; (verb) Middle English, back formation from wonted or wont (past participle); (noun) apparently from conflation of wont (past participle) with obsolete wone “wish” in certain stereotyped phrases

Word History and Origins

Origin of wont¹

Old English gewunod, past participle of wunian to be accustomed to; related to Old High German wunēn (German wohnen ), Old Norse una to be satisfied; see wean ¹, wish , winsome

Example Sentences

Forgive my candor, though such is my wont, but much like that moose on a spit, Bernie is dead.

From The Daily Beast

The U.K. tabloids, as is their wont, have branded her “shameless,” “sordid,” and “the scourge of society.”

From The Daily Beast

It has been, as contestants on TV talent shows are wont to say, a “journey.”

From The Daily Beast

Allen responded with his own op-ed in the Times, and the media, as is their wont, proceeded to pick sides.

From The Daily Beast

As celebrities on the movie promotion circuit are wont to do, Cameron Diaz is hawking her latest cause celebre.

From The Daily Beast

In discussing Duns Scotus, I have given less from his writings than has been my wont with other philosophers.

From Project Gutenberg

Later on, I believe, a child is wont to have his favourite colour, and to be ready to defend it against the preferences of others.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been wont to do this on other occasions, because the enemy with nine ships was within sight of the fort.

From Project Gutenberg

In cases in which no attempt is made to ignore the accusation, the small wits are wont to be busy discovering exculpations.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet the feeling is in most children weak and vacillating, and is wont to be mixed with other and less noble ones.

From Project Gutenberg