different between seldom vs sometime

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

• some time (adverb), some-time (adjective)
• sometyme (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English somtyme, som time, some tyme, sume time, sumtym, sumtyme, equivalent to some +? time.

Pronunciation

• enPR: s?m?t?m', IPA^(key): /?s?m?ta?m/
• Hyphenation: some?time

Adverb

sometime (not comparable)

1. At an indefinite but stated time in the past or future.

2. (obsolete) Sometimes.
3. (obsolete) At an unstated past or future time; once; formerly.
   • c. 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, Act IV, scene i:

     Did they not sometime cry "All hail" to me?

Synonyms

• (at an indefinite time in the future): at some point, at some time, at some time or other, somewhen; see also Thesaurus:sometime
• (at an indefinite time in the past): at one time, in the past; see also Thesaurus:formerly
• (sometimes):

Derived terms

• sometime thing
• sometime or other, sometime or another
• sometimey

Related terms

• sometimes
• sooner or later

Translations

Adjective

sometime (not comparable)

1. Former, erstwhile; at some previous time.

   my sometime friend and mentor

   • c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, Act I, scene ii:

     Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen / Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state
2. Occasional.

   an author and sometime lecturer

Synonyms

• (former): earlier, erstwhile, ex-, previous
• (occasional):

Derived terms

• sometimes

Translations

Anagrams

• timesome