adv. Forms: 1 on án, on áne, 2–3 anan, 3 anæn, 3–4 onon, onan(e, an-nane, in an(e, in oon, 4 on o(o)ne, 4–5 anoon(e, 4–7 anone, 5 onon(e, enon, onoon, 6 annon(e, 2– anon. Aphet. 4 noon. [OE. on án into one, on áne in one, i.e., in one body, mind, state, act, way, course, motion, movement, moment.]
† 1. In (or into) one body, company or mass; in one; together; in one accord; in unity. Obs.
a. 1000. Metr. Ps. cxxxii. 1. Hú glædlíc … þætte bróður onán beʓen hicʓen.
a. 1000. Cynewulf, Christ, 970 (Grein). Téonleʓ bærneð þréo eall onán grimme togædre.
† 2. In one (and the same) state or condition (without change); the same. Obs. rare.
c. 1220. Ureisun, in Lamb. Hom., 189. [He] halt euer anon wiþute sturunge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1852. Þe streme it stud ai still in-an [v.r. in ane, on an, in oon].
† 3. In one (and the same) course or direction, in a straight course, straight on, even. Anon to: even to, as far as to; = L. usque ad, Fr. jusqu’à, Ger. bis zu. Obs.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1105. He wass all daȝȝ Unnclene anan till efenn.
c. 1305. E. E. Poems (1862), 49. Al þe lond biȝunde humber: anon into scotlonde.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (1865), I. 85. From þe see þat is i-cleped Caspius anon to þe Rede see.
1399. Rich. Redeles, II. 126. Ȝe … plucked and pulled hem anon to þe skynnes.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 156. Shalle I never rest … Or I come ther anone?
† 4. strictly, Straightway, at once, forthwith, instantly. Obs. (exc. when mod. writers have tried to revive the strict sense.)
a. 1000. Juliana, 69 (Grein). Heó me onán saʓað, þæt heó … ne ʓyme.
c. 1175. Cotton Hom., 231. Gief he fend wére, me sceolde ánon eter gat [hine] ȝemete.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1067. He boden him bringen ut onon.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 99. Roberd went to … Sir Lowys on one, and told him þat greuance.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 364. Thai buskit thame on-ane.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 365. A-non vndo þe ȝates!
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. vi. Þey risen oute of here bed and axen mete on oone [L. subito; 1582 anone].
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, III. 813. Enon he lurkys to his loge.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., xli. (1539), 61. [Though] the aduantage … come nat anone, it will come at length.
1611. Bible, Matt. xiii. 20. He that heareth the word, & anon with joy receiueth it.
1862. Trench, Miracles, xvii. 281. The toiling rowers are anon at the haven where they would be.
† b. Anon so or as: once that, immediately as, as soon as ever (Fr. aussitôt que). Obs.
c. 1175. Cotton Hom., 241. Ælc cristen mán ánon se stepð up of þe funte … he maceð him þri ifon.
c. 1205. Lay., 6369. Anan [1250 wane] se he wes wrað wið eni mon.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 18. Kneolen and bowen, Anon as men nempned · þe name of god Ihesu.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 1836. Ye shall be hanged … Anoon as I have eten I-nowe.
a. 1520. Myrr. our Ladye, 178. Ioye to aungels anone as they were made.
1553–62. Foxe, A. & M., I. 588/2. Anon as the word of the Sacrament is said.
† c. Anon after, after anon: directly or immediately after. Obs.
c. 1220. Leg. Kath., 1600. An se swiðe swote smal com anan þrefter.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 45. Coueityse-of-eyghes conforted me anon after.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, I. 287. All entred into Argon after anon.
1473. Warkw., Chron., 6. Anone aftere that … there was a grete insurreccyon.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xlvii. 65. Whan they were all assembled, anone after Easter.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 4. He myght shew … what was to come anone after.
† d. Soon anon: immediately, quickly. Obs.
c. 1220. Leg. Kath., 1899. Þis meiden sone anan onswerede.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1435. Ful sone onane [v.r. an-nane, anoon], His saule it was til hell tane.
a. 1325. Metr. Hom., 124. He undid it sone on an.
5. Gradually misused (like presently, immediately, by and by, directly, in a moment) to express: Soon, in a short time, in a little while. (Cf. d. above.) Till anon (obs.): until by and by, for a little.
1526. Tindale, Rev. xi. 14. The seconde woo is past, and beholde the thyrd woo wyll come anon [Wycl. soone; Rhem., 1611, quickly].
1598. Stow, Surv. (1603), xlix. 557. As it shall better appeare anone.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. vii. 45. Forbeare me till anon. Ibid. (1610), Temp., II. ii. 84. Thou do’st me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon.
1656. Cowley, Mistress, Wks. 1710, I. 124. Leading them still insensibly on By the strange Witchcraft of Anon.
1661. Boyle, Spring of Air, I. ii. (1682), 3. The answering of this we shall suspend until anon.
1661. Pepys, Diary, 15 Sept. To put things in order against anon for the buriall.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), IV. 352. Take not the first Refusal ill, Tho’ now she wont, anon she will.
1858. Sears, Athan., vii. 59. We dream now, we shall wake anon.
6. Now again. a. Now at this time, in contrast to at that time, presently again; here again.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. ii. 6. Who now hangeth like a Iewell in the care of Celo the skie … and anon falleth like a Crab on the face of Terra.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, III. II. 204. Contriving new designs, now for this Cardinal, anon for another.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., II. 369. Now it is a people with hats; anon with turbans.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., viii. 347. Sometimes … the sacred writers say too little; and anon too much!
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 2. 11. The avalanche rushed, hidden at intervals, and anon shooting forth.
b. Ever and anon: ever and again, every now and then; continually at intervals.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 102. Ever and anon they made a doubt.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 7. They are sure to be hunted ever and anon.
1703. Rowe, Fair Penit., I. i. 232. Then ever and anon she wrings her hands.
1820. Scott, Monast., xi. 69. Looking ever and anon to Edward for assistance.
7. A response by a servant etc. called: ‘Immediately! presently! coming!’; whence extended to an expression of attention, ‘At your service! awaiting your orders!’; and finally implying that the auditor has failed to catch the speaker’s words or meaning, and asks him to repeat = ‘Beg your pardon! what did you say? eh?’ See ANAN.
† 8. Comb. anon-right, also (later) right anon: straightway, forthwith, right off, immediately. Obs.
c. 1175. Cotton Hom., 265. Hwer se eauer þe gast wule, þe bodi is anan riht.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2571. Allswa birrþ himm forrþrihht anan.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 132. I sawgh anoon [v.r. anon(e, a non] ryght hir figure. Ibid. (c. 1386), Sqrs. T., 391. Right anon she wiste what they mente.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, I. v. 8. To make a mariage, after anon right.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., I. 34. He lete slee hem euerychone anon right.
† b. With adverbial genitive -es, -s. Obs.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 248. Herdi bileaue bringeð þene deouel a vlihte anon-rihtes.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 824. After mete, anon ryghtis, Theo kyng clepith gentil knyghtis.
c. 1460. Launfal, 658. Syxty ladyes and fyf … went hem doun anoon ryghtes.
