Ruminations.
Where does the word "once" come from?
"Once" as an adverb meaning "one time; formerly" comes from Old Englishæne, "one," appearing around 1200. The OED seems confused as to how many different uses there are for this word - it lists 19 different meanings in one location for the word - 12 adverbs, 2 adjectives, 2 conjunctions, 2 nouns, and 1 unspecified part of speech; and in other place it lists 22 different meanings, but without specifying them. The adverb acquired the meaning "in a past time" around 1250, and "once and for all" (as an emphatic) around 1300. Obsolete meanings include "in any case; at some future time; on the one hand; performed once." Links.NightCafe Image Source