Home › Glossary › Letter W

wont

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Accustomed or habituated to doing something; in the habit of; also as a noun, one's customary practice or habit, as in "as was his wont" meaning "as was his custom."

Detailed Definition
“Wont” describes ingrained behavior (“he was wont to walk at dawn”) or the habit itself. It appears in narrative and reflective poetry to establish character or routine, often contrasting past and present. Its brevity suits metrical lines, and its archaic tone evokes continuity or nostalgia. Though rare today, “wont” in verse signals the quiet persistence of habit, tradition, or personal ritual in the face of change.
Example
Example in poetry:
As is my wont, I rose at dawn (custom, habit); It is his wont to speak but little (habitual practice); She walked the beach, as was her wont (usual custom); He sat in silence, as was his wont (customary practice); As is the wont of old men, he told tales (habit, custom); Morning prayer was her daily wont (accustomed practice)
Additional Notes
Wont functions as adjective meaning "accustomed" or "used to," and as noun meaning "habitual practice." "He was wont to rise early" means he habitually rose early. "It is my wont" means it is my custom. Students must recognize wont's dual nature. Shakespeare uses both: "as is my wont" (noun) and "he is wont to do" (adjective). The construction "wont to [infinitive]" describes habitual action. Etymology from Old English wunian (dwell, be accustomed). Understanding wont helps interpret character habits and patterns. Compare "accustomed" (used to), "habit" (custom), and "wont" (archaic for both). Modern English preserves "wont" mainly in formal writing; "as is my wont" sounds self-consciously literary. The past participle "wonted" (accustomed, usual) appears in phrases like "wonted place" (usual place). The verb form "to wont" (accustom) is rarer. Understanding wont's grammatical flexibility prevents confusion.
Also Known As
wonte wonted accustomed
Skip to main content