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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Anis, Anes, Ance, adv. Also: anys (aanys), aneis, annis, annes; ainis, aynis; aines, aynes; anse, ans, ains, aens, ens. [Northern ME. anes, anis (ME. ones, oones, etc.: see Onis), f. ān, ane Ane num., replacing earlier ænes, OE. ǽne.]

1. One time only; on or for but one occasion.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 272 (dede anoyis him bot anys). a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 252 (that he ma anis play with thé). c1420 Wynt. i. 417 (the dow he send furth anys or twyis). 1456 Hay II. 93/16 (never but anys in the ȝere). 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 47 (passand twis to Sanctandrois and anys to Dunbare). 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 107 (reid oftar than anys). a1540 Freiris Berw. 73 (fill the cop agane anis). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 129/25 (anis only euery day; nocht anis in the moneth). 1583 St. A. Kirk S. 513 (ofter nor anis sensyne). c1600 Montg. Suppl. ix. 56 (ainis in the ȝeir). 1622-6 Bisset I. 235/11 (to charge theme anis at the markett croce).Comb. 1583 St. A. Test. II. 19 b (sevin pund of anis heklit lint).(b) 1568 Inverness B. Rec. I. 163 (anes in the day). 1584 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 115 (ilk thre yeir anes). 1596 Dalr. II. 7/18 (nocht anes or tuyse, but oft). 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 318 (it was onlie aines offert). 1623 Peebles B. Rec. 362 (anes ewerie weik).(c) 1576 Oppress. Orkney 51 (ans in the sewin ȝeir). a1578 Pitsc. II. 61/26 (he stude still, nocht ans moving). 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 210/30 (euerie yeer ains at the least). 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 409 (ans in the ȝeir). 1650 Inverurie 313 (aftener than ance or twysse).

b. On one (or the first) of two or more occasions.14.. Acts I. 375/2 (the proces aw to ryn anys, tuys and thris). 1491 Ib. II. 225/2 (twis in the ȝere, anys on the gris and anys on the corne). c1515 Asl. MS. I. 186/9 (anys be Herculis and anys be Alexandre). 1562 Montgomery Mem. 187 (demandit … anis, twyis, thryis). 1622-6 Bisset I. 98/18 (we charge anis, twyis, thrys … ȝow all). 1628 Sutherland Corr. 150 (aneis from Aberdein and anes from Dundie).

2. Just once; on one occasion only; even once. 1375 Barb. vi. 499.
Fra he mycht anys feill The kyngis sent, … he vald change it for na thyng c1420 Wynt. vii. 3121.
Hyr body to rays thai had na mycht, Na lyfft hyr anys owt off that plas 1456 Hay I. 293/12.
Men may, sa thai be anys maid knychtis, call thame all knychtis a1500 Henr. Fab. 674.
Weill wer him, that anis in his lyue Had hap to ȝow his sinnis for to schryue c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 54.
Had I my chois anis, … I chaip suld for euir 1513 Doug. iv. viii. 63.
Al thar wepyng mycht not him anys steir 1558-66 Knox II. 163.
Bott let the Papistis be yitt anys agane assurit that thair pryid … we will not suffer 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 5/25.
It is … to be lamentit … that thay suld nocht anis espye [etc.]

3. At one time in the past; formerly.c1420 Wynt. ii. 117 (anys as scho come hym tyll); 778 (as he passyd anys oure the se). 1456 Hay I. 111/10 (as anys befell); II. 39/12 (to fall fra honoure that anys a man has bene at). 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 56 (I had anis ane litle portione of money). 1596 Dalr. I. 33/1 (ance). 1607 Melrose P. 37 (I did anes persuade him … ).

b. Once, as a point affecting later action or occurrence. 1456 Hay II. 37/28.
Na man … may tak honour away quhare it is anys gevin 1534 Misc. Spald. C. II. 188.
Thir oure letteris … beand anys producit … before the saidis auditouris 1563 Davidson Answer 219.
Thay maters had nocht rysen againe, that had bene aneis supprest a1578 Pitsc. I. 81/21.
Sum persuadit the king to handill him regourslie sen he had anis begun 1581 Burne Disput. 128 b.
Ye are anes entered, lat se quha dar put vs out agane a1605 Montg. Devot. P. iii. 16.
Thair is no winning ouer the wall Fra ains the dur be shute 1600-1610 Melvill 8.
The soum … annes being bestowit, micht purchas a stedfast stipend

4. At some time or other in the future; one day. 1456 Hay I. 39/27.
That … he sulde anys be lord of all Italy Ib. II. 63/29.
He suld … ever think … that he mon anys dee c1475 Wall. ii. 340.
Mycht I on lyff him anys se with myn eyn, He suld be saiff c1500-c1512 Dunb. xii. 19.
Wes nevir sic drowth bot anis come rane c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 438.
Grant him his life, and mak him anis fre 1570 Sat. P. xxii. 57.
I traist in God that anis sall cum the day 1615 Highland P. III. 207.
That w[hi]lk I hoip sall wyne yow goode freindship anes or you die 1629 Fam. Rose 317.
Vissing you all happiness and us aens a happie meiting befoir ve die

5. a. At anis: see At anis adv.

b. For anis, for one time or occasion.1456 Hay I. 88/6 (as for anys it may be excusit). c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 529 (thocht it sa cauill for anis).

c. This anis, this time or occasion only. a1500 Seven S. 1463.
Grant me forgeving This anys

6. Of one mind; in union or harmony. c1475 Wall. x. 225.
Had thai bene gud, all anys we had ben 1513 Doug. xiii. ii. 91.
Bair ȝour myndis equale, as all anys

7. As adj. Made or done once. 1529 Conv. Burghs i. 508.
That [he] … sall desyir the haill nacioun of Scotland to be frie … for anis pament of custum