adj.
Pronunciation: ə - ' l ō n
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from al all + one one
Date: 13th century
1 : separated from others : ISOLATED
2 : exclusive of anyone or anything else : ONLY <she alone knows why>
3 a : considered without reference to any other <the children alone would eat that much> b : INCOMPARABLE , UNIQUE < alone among their contemporaries in this respect>
– alone · ness \ - ' l ō n-n ə s \ noun
synonyms ALONE , SOLITARY , LONELY , LONESOME , LONE , FORLORN , DESOLATE mean isolated from others. ALONE stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms <everyone needs to be alone sometimes>. SOLITARY may indicate isolation as a chosen course <glorying in the calm of her solitary life> but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss <left solitary by the death of his wife>. LONELY adds to SOLITARY a suggestion of longing for companionship <felt lonely and forsaken>. LONESOME heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy <an only child often leads a lonesome life>. LONE may replace LONELY or LONESOME but typically is as objective as ALONE <a lone robin pecking at the lawn>. FORLORN stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear <a forlorn lost child>. DESOLATE implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement < desolate after her brother's death>.