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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Onis, Ones, Onc(e, adv. Also: onys, oneis, ons, oncet. [Midl. and south. ME. and e.m.E. ones (c 1250), -is, oones (14th c.), -ys, e.m.E. once (1526), ons(se (1556), onste (1592), used in place of Sc. Anis.] Once.

1. One time only, on but one occasion.(a) c1460 Consail Vys Man 180.
Love thi God onis one the day 1535 Stewart 30006. 1560 Bk. Disc. 238.
Bot onis 1605 Crim. Trials III. 20. 1609 Acts IV. 429/1.
Onis euerie year(b) 1558-66 Knox II. 352.
Efter ones he wearyed of that exercise 1626 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 108.(c) 1639 Baillie I. 237.
Onc [sic] a thre or four year(d) 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 5.
The croft being conveined oncet in the yeir

2. On any occasion, just once, even once.Freq. in negative or conditional statements.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2439.
Fra a man had entred ones [: wones] It was a faire rowme 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. Prol. 14.
To sicht thé ones, it will bot vex his brane 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 8.
If ones [etc.](b) 1570 Leslie 261.
Being onis entered … thay mycht be the moir easilie persuadit [etc.] 1585 James VI Ess. 14.
Onis 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I. 177.(c) a1568 Bann. MS. 210 b/16.
Once 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 211/84.
No Uenus then or Cupid fals durst keik or once appeir 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 67.
That all considerable persons sould be once heir to receive true informatione of the bussines(d) c 1588 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 256/26.
Efter that we be ons iustified

3. Once for all. 1535 Stewart 26366.
Off all thir weiris onis to mak ane end 1584–5 Cal. Sc. P. VII. 559.
If they can [etc.] … they shall onis mend the matter 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 97.
The priests ar comanded to remove once befoir the last of March

4. At one time in the past, on a former occasion, formerly.Also once a day. a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 52.
The first [penny] was lost onys in a lak a1500 Quare Jel. 422.
As onys of one emperoure we rede 1558-66 Knox VI. 172.
Ones c1590 Fowler I. 325/xv a. 8.
Ones 1598 Ellon Presb. 8.
Ons 16.. Maidment Balfour Ballads 24.
Our bodies strong and healthfull once a day, Now weake and sicke

5. At some future time; one day. a1500 Lanc. 3011.
Onys or the nycht, Of fors ȝhone folk sal tak one them the flycht 1535 Stewart 58120.
That he man onis die c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 91.
Ones 1588 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 649.
Til oneis I see Scotland a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxii. 45.
Once c1590 J. Stewart II. 109 § 11.
His guidnes ȝit sall ons restoir His seruant 1627 Brechin Test. IV. 280.
That all flesche … Must ons depairt this momantare lyiff 1678 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 242.
Their graces will goe once the nixt week at furthest

6. At onis. = Atones adv. 1. a1500 Lanc. 3185.
Nor mo than on at onys 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1023. 1535 Stewart 45488. 1554 Knox VI. 516.
At ones 15.. Clar. iii. 1703. 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 171.
At onis c1590 Fowler II. 129/32.
At ones c1616 Hume Orthog. 18.