again

views updated May 21 2018

a·gain / əˈgen; əˈgān/ • adv. another time; once more: they were disappointed yet again. ∎  returning to a previous position or condition: he rose, tidied the bed, and sat down again. ∎  in addition to what has already been mentioned: the wages were low, but they made half as much again in tips. ∎  used to introduce a further point for consideration, supporting or contrasting with what has just been said: I never saw any signs, but then again, maybe I wasn't looking. ∎  used to ask someone to repeat something: what was your name again?PHRASES: again and again repeatedly: I read this author again and again.ORIGIN: Old English ongēan, ongægn, etc., of Germanic origin; related to German entgegen ‘opposite.’

again

views updated May 23 2018

again †in the opposite direction, back OE.; †in return XIII; once more, anew XIV; †prep. towards, opposite, against OE. OE. (WS.) onġēan, onġēn, later aġēn, (Angl.) onġæġn, onġeġn, whence typical ME. forms aʒen and aʒain, aʒein, corr. to OS. angegin, OHG. ingagan (G. entgegen). The native forms in aʒ-, ay- did not survive beyond XVI, being superseded universally by forms in ag- from Scand., and appearing first in northern and eastern texts XIII.