Now1, adv.
[A-S., O. Sax., O. Fries., Icel., & O. H. Ger. nā, Goth., D., Dan., & Sw. nu, N. H. Ger. nun, allied to Gr. νῦν, νῦν; Lat. nunc.]
Sense 1. At the present time; at this moment; at the time of speaking, or at a time contemporaneous with something spoken of or contemplated.
They that but now, for honor and for plate, Made the sea blush with blood, resign their hate. Waller.
I have a patient now living, at an advanced age, who discharged blood from his lungs thirty years ago. Arbuthnot.
Sense 2. In present circumstances; things being as they are; hence, used as a conjunction, to introduce an inference or an explanation.
Not this man, but Barabbas. Now, Barabbas was a robber. John xviii. 40.
The other great mischief which befalls men is, by their being misrepresented. Now, by calling evil good, a man is misrepresented to others in the way of slander. South.
How shall any man distinguish now betwixt a parasite and a man of honor? L’Estrange.
Now and now, again and again; repeatedly; often.—Now and then, at one time and another, indefinitely; occasionally; not often; at intervals. “A mead here, there a heath, and now and then a wood.” Drayton. “They now and then appear in offices of religion.” Rogers.—Now-now, at this very instant; precisely now. [Obs.] “Why, even now-now, at holding up of this finger, and before the turning down of this.” J. Webster, 1607.—Now—now, alternately; at one time—at another time. “Now high, now low, now master up, now miss.” Pope.