ofte

Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse opt. Compare Old English oft.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔf.tə/, [ˈʌf.d̥ə]

Adverb

ofte (comparative oftere, superlative oftest)

1. often, frequently

Synonyms

• hyppigt
• tit

Dutch

Alternative forms

• oft

Etymology

From Middle Dutch ofte, from Old Dutch *oftho, from Proto-West Germanic [Term?], from Proto-Germanic *efþau. Cognate with Old Saxon eftha, Old Norse eða.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɔf.tə/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: of‧te
• Rhymes: -ɔftə

Conjunction

ofte

1. (archaic or formal, except in fixed expressions) or

   Synonym: of

   Antwoord gewoon ja ofte nee, aan dit gebabbel heb ik niets.

   Just answer yes or no, this babbling is of no use to me.

Derived terms

• nooit ofte nimmer
• oftewel

Esperanto

Etymology

From English often, German oft and Yiddish אָפֿט (oft), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *ufta, *uftō (“often”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈofte/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ofte
• Hyphenation: of‧te

Adverb

ofte

1. often

Antonyms

• malofte

Derived terms

• ofta
• ofto
• ofteco

Ido

Etymology

From Esperanto ofte.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈof.te/

Adverb

ofte

1. often

Antonyms

• rare

Middle Dutch

Alternative forms

• ochte

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *efþau.

Conjunction

ofte

1. or
2. (ofte ... ofte) either ... or
3. if, when
4. as if
5. if, whether

Usage notes

Sometimes confused with of.

Descendants

• Dutch: ofte, of

Further reading

• “ofte”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929), “ofte (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I

Middle English

Alternative forms

• oft

Etymology

From Old English oft, from Proto-Germanic *ufta.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔft/

Adverb

ofte

1. oft, often
   • 1407, The Testimony of William Thorpe, pages 40–41:

     And I seide, “Ser, in his tyme maister Ioon Wiclef was holden of ful many men the grettis clerk that thei knewen lyuynge vpon erthe. And therwith he was named, as I gesse worthili, a passing reuli man and an innocent in al his lyuynge. And herfore grete men of kunnynge and other also drowen myche to him, and comownede ofte with him. And thei sauouriden so his loore that thei wroten it bisili and enforsiden hem to rulen hem theraftir… Maister Ion Aston taughte and wroot acordingli and ful bisili, where and whanne and to whom he myghte, and he vsid it himsilf, I gesse, right perfyghtli vnto his lyues eende. Also Filip of Repintoun whilis he was a chanoun of Leycetre, Nycol Herforde, dane Geffrey of Pikeringe, monke of Biland and a maistir dyuynyte, and Ioon Purueye, and manye other whiche weren holden rightwise men and prudent, taughten and wroten bisili this forseide lore of Wiclef, and conformeden hem therto. And with alle these men I was ofte homli and I comownede with hem long tyme and fele, and so bifore alle othir men I chees wilfulli to be enformed bi hem and of hem, and speciali of Wiclef himsilf, as of the moost vertuous and goodlich wise man that I herde of owhere either knew. And herfore of Wicleef speciali and of these men I toke the lore whiche I haue taughte and purpose to lyue aftir, if God wole, to my lyues ende.”

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

• English: oft, often
• Scots: aft, aften

References

• “oft(e, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Old Norse opt.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔftə/

Adverb

ofte (comparative oftere, superlative oftest)

1. frequently
2. often

References

• “ofte” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Old Norse opt. Akin to English often.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²ɔftə/

Adverb

ofte (comparative oftare, superlative oftast)

1. frequently
2. often

References

• “ofte” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.