from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Nonce \Nonce\ (n[o^]ns), n. [For the nonce, OE. for the nones, a
corruption of for then ones, where n. in then is a relic of
AS. m in [eth]am, dat. of the article and demonstrative
pronoun, E. the. See {For}, {Once}, and {The}.]
The one or single occasion; the present call or purpose; --
chiefly used in the phrase
{for the nonce}, i. e. for the present time.
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The miller was a stout carl for the nones.
--Chaucer.
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And that he calls for drink, I 'll have prepared him
A chalice for the nonce. --Shak.
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{Nonce word}, "a word apparently employed only for the
nonce". --Murray (New English Dict.).
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