wont
pronunciation
How to pronounce wont in British English:
UK [wəʊnt]
How to pronounce wont in American English:
US [wɔnt]
-
- Noun:
- an established custom
- a pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition
Word Origin
- wont
- wont: see wean
- wont (adj.)
- "accustomed," Middle English contraction of Old English wunod, past participle of wunian "to dwell, inhabit, exist; be accustomed, be used to," from Proto-Germanic *wunen "to be content, to rejoice" (cognates: Old Saxon wunon, Old Frisian wonia "to dwell, remain, be used to," Old High German wonen, German wohnen "to dwell;" related to Old English winnan, gewinnan "to win" (see win (v.)) and to wean; from PIE *wen- (1) "strive for, desire." The original meaning of the Germanic verbs was "be content, rejoice."
- wont (n.)
- "habitual usage, custom," c. 1400, from wont, adjective and verb.
Example
- 1. Britain , as is its wont , may end up stranded mid-atlantic .
- 2. As is china 's wont , the point last week was made with little subtlety : those that don 't comply will face consequences .
- 3. As is his wont , mr blair tends to be more messianic about this than most politicians .
- 4. The symbolism at ise is perfect for a country that is wont to see itself as a nation apart , one that makes sense only in reference to itself .
- 5. Faced with finely balanced dilemmas , some americans are wont to ask : " what would jesus do ? "