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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
of·ten    Audio Help   [aw-fuhn, of-uhn; awf-tuhn, of-] Pronunciation Key
–adverb
1.many times; frequently: He visits his parents as often as he can.
2.in many cases.
–adjective
3.Archaic. frequent.

[Origin: 1300–50; ME oftin, var. before vowels of ofte oft]

of·ten·ness, noun

1, 2. repeatedly, customarily. Often, frequently, generally, usually refer to experiences that are customary. Often and frequently may be used interchangeably in most cases, but often implies numerous repetitions and, sometimes, regularity of recurrence: We often go there; frequently suggests esp. repetition at comparatively short intervals: It happens frequently. Generally refers to place and means universally: It is generally understood. He is generally liked; but it is often used as a colloquial substitute for usually. In this sense, generally, like usually, refers to time, and means in numerous instances. Generally, however, extends in range from the merely numerous to a majority of possible instances; whereas usually means practically always: The train is generally on time. We usually have hot summers.
1, 2. seldom.
Often was pronounced with a t-sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the    Audio Help   [t] Pronunciation Key came to predominate in the speech of the educated, in both North America and Great Britain, and the earlier pronunciation fell into disfavor. Common use of a spelling pronunciation has since restored the    Audio Help   [t] for many speakers, and today    Audio Help   [aw-fuhn] and    Audio Help   [awf-tuhn] [or    Audio Help   [of-uhn] and    Audio Help   [of-tuhn]] exist side by side. Although it is still sometimes criticized, often with a [t] is now so widely heard from educated speakers that it has become fully standard once again.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
often

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
of·ten    Audio Help   (ô'fən, ŏf'ən, ôf'tən, ŏf'-)  Pronunciation Key 
adv.   of·ten·er, of·ten·est
Many times; frequently.


[Middle English, alteration (probably influenced by selden, seldom) of oft, from Old English; see upo in Indo-European roots.]

Usage Note: During the 15th century English experienced a widespread loss of certain consonant sounds within consonant clusters, as the (d) in handsome and handkerchief, the (p) in consumption and raspberry, and the (t) in chestnut and often. In this way the consonant clusters were simplified and made easier to articulate. With the rise of public education and literacy and, consequently, people's awareness of spelling in the 19th century, sounds that had become silent sometimes were restored, as is the case with the t in often, which is now frequently pronounced. In other similar words, such as soften and listen, the t generally remains silent.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
often 
c.1300, extended form of oft (q.v.), originally before vowels and h-, probably by infl. of M.E. selden "seldom." In common use from 16c., replacing oft. Extended form oftentimes is attested from c.1430.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
often

adverb
1. many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee" [syn: frequently] [ant: rarely, infrequently
2. frequently or in great quantities; "I don't drink much"; "I don't travel much" [syn: much
3. in many cases or instances 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
often [ˈofn] adverb
many times
Example: I often go to the theatre; I should see him more often.
Arabic: غالِبا
Chinese (Simplified): 经常
Chinese (Traditional): 經常
Czech: často
Danish: ofte
Dutch: vaak
Estonian: sageli
Finnish: usein
French: souvent
German: oft
Greek: συχνά
Hungarian: gyakran
Icelandic: oft
Indonesian: sering
Italian: spesso
Japanese: しばしば
Korean: 자주
Latvian: bieži
Lithuanian: dažnai
Norwegian: ofte
Polish: często
Portuguese (Brazil): com freqüência
Portuguese (Portugal): com frequência
Romanian: adesea
Russian: часто
Slovak: často
Slovenian: pogosto
Spanish: a menudo, con frecuencia
Swedish: ofta
Turkish: sık sık
See also: every so often

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Often

Oft\ ([o^]ft; 115), adv. [AS. oft; akin to OS. & G. oft, OHG. ofto, Sw. ofta, Dan. ofte, Icel. opt, Goth. ufta; of uncertain origin. Cf. Often.] Often; frequently; not rarely; many times. [Poetic] --Chaucer.

Oft she rejects, but never once offends. --Pope.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Often

Of`ten\, adv. [Compar. Oftener; superl. Oftenest.] [Formerly also ofte, fr. oft. See Oft., adv.] Frequently; many times; not seldom.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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