nonce Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the present occasion
    time being.
    • for the nonce

WordNet

Nonce noun
Etymology
For the nonce, OE. for the nones, a corruption of for then ones, where n. in then is a relic of AS. m in am, dat. of the article and demonstrative pronoun, E. the. See For, Once, and The.
Definitions
  1. The one or single occasion; the present call or purpose; -- chiefly used in the phrase for the nonce.
    The miller was a stout carl for the nones. Chaucer.
    And that he calls for drink, I 'll have prepared him A chalice for the nonce. Shak.
    Murray (New English Dict. ).

Webster 1913