I forgot square brackets were used for dragon runes and now I can't seem to edit the post >.<

I'm getting "This page is currently unavailable. Sorry for the inconvenience."

Is there a problem with using "Ont'?

No sarcasm intended: Link

Look at the second definition. That's a different word, right? Just happens to be identical to the ordinal number in English. I believe it's known as a homonym? Should the dragons of Skyrim follow after homonyms of the English language? I think not.

Here are all the uses of "ont" I can find in-game:

• Word Wall for "Qah", forgive their incomplete translations. "Het ont kriist Miraak," "here once stood Miraak."
• Alduin: "Zu'u lost kriaan hi ont, nu hin sille fen nahkip suleyki." "I have killed you once, now your souls will feed my power."
• Paarthurnax: "Zeymahi lost ont du'ul Bormahu." "My brother was once the crown of our Father."

Most of these would suggest definition number 2. However, I'd like to make the case that these two definitions aren't entirely exclusive. "Het ont kriist Miraak" could translate to "Here formerly stood Miraak" just as well as it could translate to "Here at one time stood Miraak."

The wiktionary page lists a single etymology for "once." By comparison, "lie" has three etymologies. And yet, the Dovahzul word "Nok" is used to mean both "to lie on the ground" and "to tell a falsehood" (second to last verse). The canon language isn't great about avoiding English homonyms. "Ont" might be another example but I think its two definitions are close enough that a separate word isn't warranted.

I guess so. I'll stick with 'ont' then.

Nox!