Crossword Genius

How one might start a story about the last 2,000 years? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

once

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'how one' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'start a story about the last 2000 years?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'about' could be 'on' (as in a book 'on' a certain topic) and 'on' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'might' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for once that I've seen before include "Sometime" , "At some time past" , "... upon a time for the storyteller" , "At a previous time" , "'... bitten, twice shy'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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