different between seldom vs always

English

Alternative forms

• seldome (obsolete)

Etymology

From late Middle English seldom, alteration of earlier selden, from Old English seldan (“seldom”), from Proto-Germanic *seldan?. Cognate with Saterland Frisian säilden (“seldom”), West Frisian selden, komselden (“rare, seldom”), Dutch zelden, German selten, Danish sjælden, Norwegian sjelden, Swedish sällan, Faroese sjáldan, Icelandic sjaldan. More at seld and selly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?ld?m/

Adverb

seldom (comparative more seldom or seldomer, superlative most seldom or seldomest)

1. Infrequently, rarely.

   Synonyms: barely, hardly, rarely, scarcely, infrequently, seldomly; see also Thesaurus:occasionally

   Antonyms: often, frequently; see also Thesaurus:often

Usage notes

• It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. Compare he seldom ever plays tennis with he almost never plays tennis.
• The form seldomly, derived from the (now archaic) adjectival use, exists, but has not gained widespread acceptance.

Derived terms

• seldom or ever
• seldomtimes
• unseldom

Translations

Adjective

seldom (comparative more seldom or seldomer, superlative most seldom or seldomest)

1. (archaic) Rare; infrequent.

   Synonyms: geason, uncommon; see also Thesaurus:rare

   • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living

     a suppressed and seldom anger

Derived terms

• seldomly
• seldomness

Related terms

• seld

Translations

Anagrams

• lesdom, models, somdel

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English seldan.

Adverb

seldom

1. Alternative form of selden (“seldom”)

Etymology 2

From Old English selden.

Adjective

seldom

1. Alternative form of selden (“uncommon”)

English

Alternative forms

• alwayes, alwayz, alwayez (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English alwayes, allwayes, allweyes, a variant of Middle English allwaye, alwey, alle wey (“always”), from Old English ealne?, ealnewe? (“always, perpetually”, literally “all the way, all the while, continuously”), from ealne + we? (accusative case), equivalent to alway +? -s. Cognate with Scots alwayis (“always”), Low German allerwegens (“very often”, literally “all ways'”). More at all, way.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???(l).we?z/, /???l.w?z/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??l.we?z/, /??l.wiz/, /??l.w?z/
• Hyphenation: al?ways

Adverb

always (not comparable)

1. At all times; throughout all time; since the beginning.

   Synonyms: perpetually, continually, all the time, every time; see also Thesaurus:forever

   Antonyms: at no time, never; see also Thesaurus:never
2. Constantly during a certain period, or regularly at stated intervals (opposed to sometimes or occasionally).

   Synonyms: invariably, uniformly; see also Thesaurus:uniformly

   Antonyms: manywise, sundrily, variously; see also Thesaurus:diversely

   • 1840, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Money

     His liveries are black,—his carriage is black,—he always rides a black galloway,—and, faith, if he ever marry again, I think he will show his respect to the sainted Maria by marrying a black woman.
3. (informal) In any event.

   Synonyms: anyhow, anyway, at any rate, regardless; see also Thesaurus:regardless

Usage notes

• Used for both duration and frequency.
• "Always" used with a continuous tense can imply anger or annoyance about another person's persistent habits, for example "My mum is always telling me to tidy me room!".

Derived terms

• alwaysness

Translations