English Dictionary

Definition of “wont

wont (wəʊntPronunciation for wont

Definitions

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

Word Origin

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 weanOld English past participle of to be accustomed to; related to Old High German (German ), Old Norse to be satisfied; see 1, , , wish, winsome

won't (wəʊntPronunciation for won't

Definitions

contraction of

  1. will not

Usage examples

  • He opened his two hands and closed them again -- a gesture he was wont to use when preaching.
    Emecheta, Buchi, Gwendolen (1989)
  • And we also wanted to avoid the pangs of break-up, which joint ventures are wont to.
    Business Today (1999)
  • As is their wont , Castres replaced their entire front row in the second half.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Woods was on the course early yesterday morning, as is his wont.
    Times, Sunday Times (2004)
  • That brings me back to two other aspects of ancient life that archaeologists are still wont to remove from their cultural contexts.
    Francis Pryor, BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)

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