oft

Etymology

From Middle English oft (also ofte, often > Modern English often), from Old English oft (“often”), from Proto-Germanic *uftō (“often”). Cognate with German oft (“oft, often”) and Dutch oft. More at often.

adv

1. (chiefly poetic, dialectal, and in combination) often; frequently; not rarely
   An oft-told tale
   1819, George Gordon Byron, John Galt (biography), The Pophecy of Dante, Canto the Fourth, 1857, The Complete Works of Lord Byron, Volume 1, page 403, And how is it that they, the sons of fame, Whose inspiration seems to them to shine From high, they whom the nations oftest name, Must pass their days in penury or pain, Or step to grandeur through the paths of shame, And wear a deeper brand and gaudier chain?
   1902, James H. Mulligan, In Kentucky, quoted in 2005, Wade Hall (editor), The Kentucky Anthology, page 203, The moonlight falls the softest In Kentucky; The summer days come oftest In Kentucky;