for the nonce en · ADP
Pronunciation
- /nɒn(t)s/ (UK)
- /nɑn(t)s/ (General-American)
- nŏn(t)s (UK)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English for þe nones, for þe nanes, a rebracketing of earlier for þen ānes (literally “for the once”).
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) For the time being, for now, with the expectation that the situation may change.
For the nonce he was rather nonplussed but inasmuch as the duty plainly devolved upon him to take some measures on the subject he pondered suitable ways and means during which Stephen repeatedly yawned.
1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 16]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:'Idiot!' exclaimed the doctor, who for the nonce was not capable of more than such spasmodic attempts at utterance.
1857, Anthony Trollope, chapter 6, in Barchester Towers:'We part, then, for the nonce, do we?' 'I fear so, sir.' 'You take the high road, and self taking the low road, as it were?' 'Yes, sir.' 'I shall miss you, Jeeves.' 'Thank you, sir.'
1946, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 11, in Joy in the Morning, →OCLC:That will do for the nonce, but we'll need a better answer for the long term.
Translations (21)
de für den augenblicklichen Zweck (for the time being) · ru в данном случае (for the time being) · es por esta vez (for the time being) · pl póki co (for the time being) · de für den Moment (for the time being) · cmn 暫且 /暂且 (for the time being) · cmn 權且 /权且 (for the time being) · it per il momento (for the time being) · ru пока́ что (for the time being) · sv för stunden (for the time being) · sv för närvarande (for the time being) · sv för tillfället (for the time being) · pl na razie (for the time being) · de einstweilen (for the time being) · de für den Augenblick (for the time being) · fr pour le moment (for the time being) · eo nuntempe (for the time being) · is í þetta sinn (for the time being) · ro pentru moment (for the time being) · ro deocamdată (for the time being) · pt por agora (for the time being)