only

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Usage notes 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Adverb 1.4.1 Derived terms 1.4.2 Translations 1.5 Conjunction 1.5.1 Translations 1.5.2 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈəʊn.li/, SAMPA: /@Un.li/
• (US) IPA: /ˈoʊn.li/, SAMPA: /oUn.li/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Hyphenation: on‧ly

[edit] Etymology

Old English ǣnlīċ, from Germanic; corresponding to one + -ly/-like. Cognate with German einzig, Swedish enlig (“‘unified’”), and obsolete Dutch eenlijk.

[edit] Adjective

only (not comparable)

1. singular; part of a relatively small number

   he is the only doctor for miles

2. without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender

   he is their only son, in fact, an only child

3. singularly superior; the best

[edit] Derived terms

• only child

[edit] Usage notes

• For what reason are the English words one and once pronounced so, while other words derived from one, like alone, only and atone, pronounced with a long o? Stressed vowels often became diphthongs over time (Latin bona → Italian buona and Spanish buena). A similar thing happened in the late Middle Ages to the English words one and once, first recorded circa 1400. The vowel sound underwent some changes, such as the pronunciation (from ōn → ōōōn → wōn → wōōn → wŏŏn → wŭn).

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adverb

only

1. without others or anything further; exclusively

   my heart is hers, and hers only

2. no more than; just

   if there were only one more ticket!

3. as recently as

   he left only moments ago

[edit] Derived terms

• if and only if
• only if

[edit] Translations

[edit] Conjunction

only

1. Under the condition that; but.
2. However.

   I would enjoy running, only I have this broken leg

3. But for the fact that; except.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms

• if only