Oftentimes is an adverb meaning often or repeatedly, appearing frequently in both written and spoken English. It originated in the 14th century as an extension of the synonym 'ofttimes.'
Oftentimes is an adverb meaning often or repeatedly, appearing frequently in both written and spoken English. It originated in the 14th century as an extension of the synonym 'ofttimes.'
| Word | oftentimes |
|---|---|
| Date | June 12, 2017 |
| Type | adverb |
| Syllables | AW-fun-tymez |
| Etymology | Despite its archaic, literary ring, oftentimes is quite alive today. In fact, it seems to be more popular now than it was in past decades, appearing frequently both in written expression and in speech. Oftentimes was first used in the 14th century (the same century that gave us often), and its meaning hasn't changed—as meanings oftentimes will—in all that time. It was formed as an extension of its slightly older synonym ofttimes. Today ofttimes is less common, but oft (which comes from Old English and also means "often" or "frequently") is popular in combination with past participles, as in oft-praised. |
| Examples | Oftentimes, when children are in trouble, you will hear people say that it is all because of low self-esteem." — Lemony Snicket, The Miserable Mill, 2000 "However, it's important to remember that taking a nap for too long can leave you feeling groggy and oftentimes worse than before." — Bailey Jensen, The Daily Collegian (Pennsylvania State University), 1 May 2017 |
| Definition | : often, repeatedly |
Tags: wordoftheday::adverb
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