wont

¹

[ wawnt, wohnt, wuhnt ]

adjective

1. accustomed; used (usually followed by an infinitive):

   He was wont to rise at dawn.

   Synonyms: wonted

   Antonyms: unaccustomed

noun

1. custom; habit; practice:

   It was her wont to walk three miles before breakfast.

   Synonyms: use

verb (used with object)

, wont, wont or wont·ed, wont·ing.

1. to accustom (a person), as to a thing:

   That summer wonted me to a lifetime of early rising.

2. to render (a thing) customary or usual (usually used passively).

verb (used without object)

, wont, wont or wont·ed, wont·ing.

1. to be wont.

won't

²

[ wohnt, wuhnt ]

1. contraction of will not:

   He won't see you now.

wont

¹

/ wəʊnt /

adjective

1. postpositive accustomed (to doing something)

   he was wont to come early

noun

1. a manner or action habitually employed by or associated with someone (often in the phrases as is my wont, as is his wont, etc)

verb

1. when tr, usually passive to become or cause to become accustomed

won't

²

/ wəʊnt /

contraction of

1. will not

Usage Note

See contraction.

Other Words From

• wontless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wont¹

irst recorded in 1300–50; (adjective) Middle English wont, woned, Old English gewunod, past participle of gewunian “to be used to” ( won ² ); cognate with German gewöhnt; (verb) Middle English, back formation from wonted or wont (past participle); (noun) apparently from conflation of wont (past participle) with obsolete wone “wish” in certain stereotyped phrases

Word History and Origins

Origin of wont¹

Old English gewunod, past participle of wunian to be accustomed to; related to Old High German wunēn (German wohnen ), Old Norse una to be satisfied; see wean ¹, wish , winsome

Example Sentences

The event was packed and it went on for many hours as his rallies are wont to do.

From Salon

The trees wont be ready for planting until next year.

From BBC

As is his wont, Jackson looked to a song to articulate his thoughts: “I’m a huge Joni Mitchell fan,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

If you allow Alito and Thomas to help Trump facilitate a Fourth Reich, as they both appear wont to do, you and the entire judiciary will be rendered powerless in a matter of months.

From Salon

Stewart is wont to drop deep knowledge, whether he’s pointing out the sites of bygone jazz lofts in NoHo or spontaneously unpacking a Ravel score at the New School, where he is an adjunct professor.

From New York Times