only

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] English

Most common English words: about « its « time « #74: only » like » little » now

[edit] Pronunciation

[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)

Positive
only

Comparative
not comparable

Superlative
none (absolute)

  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

[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

[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

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

[edit] Related terms