I. ə-ˈlōn 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 -ˈlōn-nəs 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
II. adverb
Date: 13th century
1. : solely , exclusively
the blame is his alone
2. : without aid or support
said he could do it alone