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Definition nonce

Etymology 1

From Middle English nonse, nones, a rebracketing of Middle English to þan anes, for þan anes (to/for the one (occasion, instance)). The cryptography sense is commonly said to be a contraction of number used once, although this is probably incorrect.

Noun

nonce (plural nonces)

1. The one or single occasion; the present reason or purpose (now only in for the nonce).
2. (lexicography) A nonce word.
3. (cryptography) A value constructed so as to be unique to a particular message in a stream, in order to prevent replay attacks.

Adjective

nonce (not comparable)

1. One-off; produced or created for a single occasion or use. Denoting something occurring once.

Etymology 2

Unknown, derived from British criminal slang. Several origins have been proposed; possibly derived from dialectal nonce, nonse (“stupid, worthless individual”), or Nance, nance (“effeminate man”), from nancy or nancyboy. Another theory is that it is a shortening or dialectal pronunciation of "no(t) once", a common defense of sexual predators in court of law.

Noun

nonce (plural nonces)

1. (Britain, slang, derogatory) A sex offender, especially one who is guilty of sexual offences against children.
2. (Britain, slang) A stupid or worthless person.

Results 320 Words with the letters NONCE

You can also try words with the phrase NONCE, words starting with the letters NONCE, or words ending in the letters NONCE.

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