You can want for nothing or be found wanting; you can endure on your quest to understand the English language, as I might be wont to do, or just throw up your hands, as might be your wont. No matter the case, won’t you join me in this discussion of “want” vs. “wont” so we can finally all get this one right?
Hint: “wont” is not a typo.
Here’s what you need to know:
- “Want” is most commonly a verb, meaning “to have or feel a need,” or “to desire,” but it can also be a noun, as in “something that is needed or desired.”
- “Wont” can be a verb, a noun, or an adjective. (You know, just the English language keeping things simple.) As a verb, it can mean “being in the habit of doing something.” As a noun, it can mean “that habitual way of doing things,” and as an adjective, it can mean “inclined” or “apt.”
- “Won’t” is a contraction of “will not.”
“Wont” is an incredibly old English word, having been in use since before the 12th century. How long before is unclear, but no matter the answer, you can rest assured it’s been around for a long time. Its Old English form is wunian, which is realted to the Old High German word wonēn, meaning both “to dwell” and “to be used to.” These seem to trace back to the Sanskrit word vanoti, meaning “to strive.” (Interestingly, “to win” also goes back to this same Sanskrit word.)
“Want” entered English in the 13th century, so even with centuries of use behind it, it’s the younger word. “Want” came from the Old Norse word, vanta, meaning “to lack.”
And if you’ve ever been curious, contractions like “won’t” have been around for hundreds of years. They aren’t just modern sloppy words. All audiences might not approve of them or call them appropriate (hello, academia!), but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a history. “Won’t,” specifically, has been in use in writing since the 1560s.
Meanwhile, is anyone else excited to talk about Sanskrit and Old Norse? Not that I don’t love Latin etymology stories, but these seem much more common in our conversations. You could say we’re much more wont to talk about Latin roots than Sanskrit, but that’s hardly the end of the English language conversation!
Are there any other language questions you want answered? Don’t hesitate to let me know.
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