at once : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: at once	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for at once
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
at once adv without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening; "he answered immediately"; "found an answer straightaway"; "an official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith"; "Come here now!" Synonym(s): immediately, instantly, straightaway, straight off, directly, now, right away, at once, forthwith, like a shot simultaneously; "he took three cookies at a time" Synonym(s): at a time, at once, at one time
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Once \Once\, adv. [OE. ones, anes, an adverbial form fr. one, on, an, one. See {One-}, {-Wards}.] 1. By limitation to the number one; for one time; not twice nor any number of times more than one. Ye shall . . . go round about the city once. --Josh. vi. 3. Trees that bear mast are fruitful but once in two years. --Bacon. 2. At some one period of time; -- used indefinitely. My soul had once some foolish fondness for thee. --Addison. That court which we shall once govern. --Bp. Hall. 3. At any one time; -- often nearly equivalent to ever, if ever, or whenever; as, once kindled, it may not be quenched. Wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it once be? --Jer. xiii. 27. To be once in doubt Is once to be resolved. --Shak. Note: Once is used as a noun when preceded by this or that; as, this once, that once. It is also sometimes used elliptically, like an adjective, for once-existing. [bd]The once province of Britain.[b8] --J. N. Pomeroy. {At once}. (a) At the same point of time; immediately; without delay. [bd]Stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once.[b8] --Shak. [bd]I . . . withdrew at once and altogether.[b8] --Jeffrey. (b) At one and the same time; simultaneously; in one body; as, they all moved at once. {Once and again}, once and once more; repeatedly. [bd]A dove sent forth once and again, to spy.[b8] --Milton.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
At \At\, prep. [AS. [91]t; akin to OHG. az, Goth., OS., & Icel. at, Sw. [86]t, Dan. & L. ad.] Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at. It expresses: 1. A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land. 2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage. 3. The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns. 4. The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80[deg]; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest. 5. The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first. 6. The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands. 7. Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one. {At all}, {At home}, {At large}, {At last}, {At length}, {At once}, etc. See under {All}, {Home}, {Large}, {Last} (phrase and syn.), {Length}, {Once}, etc. {At it}, busily or actively engaged. {At least}. See {Least} and {However}. {At one}. See {At one}, in the Vocabulary. Syn: {In}, {At}. Usage: When reference to the interior of any place is made prominent in is used. It is used before the names of countries and cities (esp. large cities); as, we live in America, in New York, in the South. At is commonly employed before names of houses, institutions, villages, and small places; as, Milton was educated at Christ's College; money taken in at the Customhouse; I saw him at the jeweler's; we live at Beachville. At may be used before the name of a city when it is regarded as a mere point of locality. [bd]An English king was crowned at Paris.[b8] --Macaulay. [bd]Jean Jacques Rousseau was born at Geneva, June, 28, 1712.[b8] --J. Morley. In regard to time, we say at the hour, on the day, in the year; as, at 9 o'clock, on the morning of July 5th, in the year 1775.