† ˈenes, adv. Obs.
Forms: 2–3 ænes, enes, Orm. æness, (3–5 ens, 3 eanes,) 4–5 enis, -us, -ys).
[Early ME. ænes, enes, var. of OE. ánes once, assimilated to ǽne, ene.]
1. Once, on one occasion.
| 1154 O.E. Chron. an. 1120 Ðises ᵹeares com þet leoht to Sepulchrum Domini innan Jerusalem twiᵹes, ænes to Eastron and oðre siðe to Assumptio sancte Marie. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 37 Uwilc mon scal beon twiȝen awesscen of his sunne, enes et þam fulhtbeda..oðer siðe..et soð scrifte. a 1200 Moral Ode 93 in E.E.P. 28 Enes drihte helle brac. c 1200 Ormin 1078 Þatt wass aȝȝ æness o þe ȝer. 1426 Audelay Poems (1844) 43 At the lest enus a ȝere. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 187, I pray the that thou wold kys me enys. |
2. At any one time, either past, present, or future; esp. to mark the completion of an action; at some time or other, formerly; once upon a time.
| c 1205 Lay. 29325 ænes an ane tide an cniht þer com ride. c 1230 Hali Meid. 11 Meidenhad is tresor þat beo hit eanes forloren ne beð hit neauer ifunden. a 1300 Cursor M. (Cott.) 10699 Vou þat es ens mad rightwis to brek aght naman þat es wis. c 1308 Pol. Songs (Camden Soc.) 203 Be the soule enis ute, A vilir caraing nis ther non. c 1340 Cursor M. (Fairf.) 3631 For ware he þar-of enys fedde..his benysoun walde he him gife. c 1400 Destr. Troy 873 Þat I may see thee come sounde to þis sale enys. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour Prol. 2 The woman that enis he hathe truli loued. 1542 Boorde Introd. Knowl. xxxiii. 2, I was borne in Bion; ens English I was. |
3. at enes, at one and the same time; = at once 3.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 420 Ne ne nime, et enes, to ueole disceplines. |