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

A certain amount of Keynesian pump-priming, of the right sort, won't do any harm—but it probably won-t do much good either.

From The Daily Beast

Aunt Fortune, there's a letter inside of that for mewon't you give it to me?won't you give it to me?

From Project Gutenberg

Down on your knees, Superstition and Flunkeydom!Won't you accept such plain doctrines instead?

From Project Gutenberg

He meditated awhile, and then said suddenly, "W-won't speak about it—will you, Cynthy?"

From Project Gutenberg

We-just-won't-acknowledge-a-man-is- great-until-the-whites-have done-so.

From Project Gutenberg

There should be no first-you-will and then-you-won't policy.

From Project Gutenberg