again

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Contents

English [edit]

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Alternative forms [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English again, ayain, anȝen, from Old English onġēan (“towards, against, opposite to, contrary to, against, in exchange for, opposite, back, again, anew, also”), equivalent to a- +‎ gain (“against”). Cognate with Danish igen (“again”), Swedish igen (“again, back”).

Adverb [edit]

again (not comparable)

  1. (obsolete) Back in the reverse direction, or to an original starting point. [10th-18th c.]
    • 1526, The Bible, tr. William Tyndale, Matthew 2:
      And after they were warned in ther slepe, that they shulde not go ageyne to Herod, they retourned into ther awne countre another way.
  2. Back (to a former place or state). [from 11th c.]
    We need to bring the old customs to life again.
    The South will rise again.
  3. (obsolete) In return, as a reciprocal action; back. [13th-19th c.]
    • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book III:
      Merlyn warned the kynge couertly that gweneuer was not holsome for hym to take to wyf, for he warned hym that launcelot shold loue her and she hym ageyne […]
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.31:
      So women are never angrie, but to the end a man should againe be angrie with them, therein imitating the lawes of Love.
    • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, I.2.4.vii:
      Thus men are plagued with women, they again with men, when they are of diverse humours and conditions […]
    • 185?, Charles Dickens, Bleak House
      As he lies in the light before a glaring white target, the black upon him shines again […]
  4. Another time; once more. [from 14th c.]
    • 1979, Charles Edward Daniels et al., “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (song), Million Mile Reflections, Charlie Daniels Band, Epic Records:
      Johnny said, “Devil, just come on back if you ever want to try again.”
    • 2010, Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian, 30 Oct 2010:
      The last sentence is so shocking, I have to read it again.
  5. Over and above a factor of one. [from 16th c.]
    • 1908 December 10, Austin H. Clark, “New Genera and Species of Crinoids”, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, Volume XXI, pages 229-230:
      Cirri l-lxxx, 15, about 12mm. long; first two joints short, about twice as broad as long; third about one-third again [=one and one-third times] as long as broad; fourth and fifth the longest, about half again [=one and a half times] as long as broad; […]
  6. Used metalinguistically, with the repetition being in the discussion, or in the linguistic or pragmatic context of the discussion, rather than in the subject of discussion. [from 16th c.]
    Great, thanks again!
    1. Tell me again, say again; used in asking a question to which one may have already received the answer, but cannot remember it.
      What's that called, again?
    2. I ask again, I say again; used in repeating a question or statement.
      Again, I'm not criticizing, I just want to understand.
    3. Here too, here also, in this case as well; used in applying a previously made point to a new instance; sometimes preceded by "here".
      Approach B is better than approach A in many respects, but again, there are difficulties in implementing it.

Derived terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

another time
used in a question to ask something one has forgotten

Preposition [edit]

again

  1. (obsolete) Against.
    • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X:
      And here begynneth the treson of Kynge Marke that he ordayned agayne Sir Trystram.

Statistics [edit]

Scots [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

Old English onġēan.

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: /əˈɡen/, /əˈɡɛn/

Adverb [edit]

again

  1. back, in the opposite direction
  2. again, anew

Preposition [edit]

again

  1. opposite, facing
  2. against, opposed to (literally or figuratively)

Conjunction [edit]

again

  1. in preparation for, in advance of
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