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Never heard for the nonce in America



It’s used in software for sequencing in protocols so stuff doesn’t get repeated


Also cryptography.


Sure, but there it's generally understood to mean "Number used Once".


Huh? I immediately assumed the use in cryptography was related to... the normal use. Compare https://www.etymonline.com/word/nonce-word :

> "word coined for a special occasion," and not likely to be wanted again, 1884, from nonce "for a particular purpose" + word (n.).

And despite what you say, I still feel certain that's what's going on. The meaning is identical.


Sure but I thought above comment meant sequencing in genetic sense so it bore clarifying


It’s not a common part of most people’s vocabulary but not unknown among those with a higher rate of reading.




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