alone
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Middle English al one (“alone”, literally “all one”), contracted from the Old English phrase eall āna (“entirely alone, solitary, single”), equivalent to al- (“all”) + one. Cognate with Scots allane (“alone”). Compare also West Frisian allinne (“alone”), Dutch alleen (“alone”), German allein (“alone”), Danish alene (“alone”). More at all, one.
[edit] Pronunciation
- (RP) IPA: /əˈləʊn/, SAMPA: /@"l@Un/
- (GenAm) IPA: /əˈloʊn/, SAMPA: /@"loUn/
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Audio (US) (file) -
Audio (UK) (file) - Rhymes: -əʊn
- Hyphenation: a‧lone
- one and once are pronounced differently from the related words alone, only and atone. Stressed vowels often become diphthongs over time (Latin bona → Italian buona and Spanish buena), and this happened in the late Middle Ages to the words one and once, first recorded ca 1400: the vowel underwent some changes, from ōn → ōōōn → wōn → wōōn → wŏŏn → wŭn.
[edit] Adjective
alone (comparative more alone, superlative most alone)
- By one's self, solitary.
- I can't ask for help because I am alone.
- Apart from, or exclusive of, others.
- Considered separately.
- Without equal.
[edit] Usage notes
- Used after what it modifies.
[edit] Adverb
alone (not comparable)
- By one's self; apart from, or exclusive of, others; solo
- She walked home alone.
- Without outside help.
- The job was to hard for me to do alone.
- Exclusively.
- The responsibility is theirs alone.
[edit] Usage notes
- Unlike most focusing adverbs, alone typically appears after a noun phrase.
- Only the teacher knew vs. The teacher alone knew
[edit] Synonyms
- (by oneself): lone, lonely, single, solitary, solo
- (without outside help): singlehandedly, by myself
- (exclusively):
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
by oneself
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without outside help
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only
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Translations to be checked
[edit] Statistics
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Italian
[edit] Etymology
Latin halo
[edit] Noun
alone m. (plural aloni)
