oft

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oft

(ôft, ŏft)

adv.

Often. Often used in combination: his oft-expressed philosophy; oft-repeated tales.

[Middle English, from Old English; see upo in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

oft

(ɒft)

adv

short for often (archaic or poetic except in combinations such as oft-repeated and oft-recurring)

[Old English oft; related to Old High German ofto]

OFT

(in Britain) abbreviation for

(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) Office of Fair Trading

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

of•ten

(ˈɔ fən, ˈɒf ən; ˈɔf tən, ˈɒf-)

adv.

1. many times; frequently.

2. in many cases.

adj.

3. Archaic. frequent.

[1300–50; Middle English; variant (before vowels) of ofte oft]

syn: often, frequently, generally, usually refer to experiences that are habitual or customary. often and frequently are used interchangeably in most cases, but often implies numerous repetitions: We often go there; whereas frequently suggests repetition at comparatively short intervals: It happens frequently. generally emphasizes a broad or nearly universal quality: It is generally understood. He is generally liked. usually emphasizes time, and means in numerous instances: We usually have hot summers.

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Adv.

oft - many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"

frequently, often, oftentimes, ofttimes

Translations

oft

[ɒft] ADV (poet) = often many a time and oft → repetidas veces

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

oft

adv (liter) → oft; an oft-told story → eine gar oft erzählte Geschichte (liter)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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When the wounded man was carried to his bed, and the house began again to clear up from the hurry which this accident had occasioned, the landlady thus addressed the commanding officer: "I am afraid, sir," said she, "this young man did not behave himself as well as he should do to your honours; and if he had been killed, I suppose he had but his desarts: to be sure, when gentlemen admit inferior parsons into their company, they oft to keep their distance; but, as my first husband used to say, few of 'em know how to do it.

Ay, ay, ay, I am satisfied your honour will see justice done; and to be sure it oft to be to every one.

Says I to the exciseman, says I, I think you oft to favour us; I am sure we are very good friends to the government: and so we are for sartain, for we pay a mint of money to 'um.

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Yet, neither thus disheartened or dismayed, The time prefixed I waited; when behold The Baptist (of whose birth I oft had heard, Not knew by sight) now come, who was to come Before Messiah, and his way prepare!

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If then his Providence Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, Our labour must be to pervert that end, And out of good still to find means of evil; Which oft times may succeed, so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb His inmost counsels from their destind aim.

Leader of those Armies bright, Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foyld, If once they hear that voyce, their liveliest pledge Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft In worst extreams, and on the perilous edge Of battel when it rag'd, in all assaults Their surest signal, they will soon resume New courage and revive, though now they lye Groveling and prostrate on yon Lake of Fire, As we erewhile, astounded and amaz'd, No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious highth.

Nor had they yet among the Sons of EVE Got them new Names, till wandring ore the Earth, Through Gods high sufferance for the tryal of man, By falsities and lyes the greatest part Of Mankind they corrupted to forsake God their Creator, and th' invisible Glory of him, that made them, to transform Oft to the Image of a Brute, adorn'd With gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold, And Devils to adore for Deities: Then were they known to men by various Names, And various Idols through the Heathen World.

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But when the goddesses had brought him up, a god oft hymned, then began he to wander continually through the woody coombes, thickly wreathed with ivy and laurel.

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Ah, how oft did I stand there naked on that account, like a red crab!

Too oft, verily, did I follow close to the heels of truth: then did it kick me on the face.

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"It is a wondrous thing how fleet'Twas on those little silver feet, With what a pretty skipping grace It oft would challenge me the race, And when't had left me far away'Twould stay, and run again, and stay; For it was nimbler much than hinds, And trod as if on the four winds.