I. |wən adjective
Etymology: Middle English oon, on, from Old English ān; akin to Old High German ein one, Old Norse einn, Gothic ains, Latin unus one, Greek oinē ace on dice, Sanskrit eka one, and perhaps to Latin is he, that — more at iterate
1.
a. : being a single unit or entire being or thing and no more — see number table
b. : existing alone in a specified sphere
there is one apple in the basket
2.
a.
(1) : being a particular unit or entire being or thing singled out (as by way of contrast, difference) from two or more identical or similar units or beings or things
spent one day of our vacation exploring the forest
have mentioned one important point out of the several that will have to be considered
went from one side to the other
(2) : being an individual that is preeminently what is indicated
is really one fine person
b. : existing as at least a single unit or being or thing : that is at least something : one at any rate : one in any case
well, that's one thing you can be proud of
that's one consolation, anyway
3.
a.
(1) : existing as something actually or virtually the same as something else : that is identical with or substantially the same as something else
the writer and his principal character are one
one and the same substance
(2) : single in kind : quite the same : equal
are of one age
(3) : that is not marked by any notable differences from something else : that amounts to the same thing
it's all one to me what you do
(4) : that is commonly shared by two or more individuals
one plague was on you all — 1 Sam 6:4 (Authorized Version)
b.
(1) : constituting a unified entity made up of or formed from or produced by two or more components or sources
combined the elements in such a way as to form one substance
cried out with one voice
(2) : that is so united to or merged with something else as to form a single harmonious whole with it : that is at one : that is in agreement : united
is one with you in all you do
(4) : existing or occurring as something not definitely fixed or placed (as in time)
will see you again one day
or as something merely mentioned with little or no specifying description : a certain
one John Doe got up and made a speech
— compare a II 4 d
5. : that is the only individual of an indicated or implied kind
was the one person she wanted to marry
II. pronoun
Etymology: Middle English oon, on, from Old English ān, from ān, adjective
1.
a. : a certain indefinitely indicated person or thing usually of a kind mentioned or under consideration
saw one of his classmates
had several current novels and let her borrow one
b.
(1) : an individual of a vaguely indicated group : anyone at all : anyone in a general way
one wouldn't like to see that happen
(2) — sometimes used as a 3d-person substitute for a pronoun of the first person (as I, we )
one supposes you will come
2. : something of an indicated or implied kind: as
a. : joke , laugh
that's one on you
b. : blow , sock
got one on the jaw which he remembered for a long time — John Masefield
3. chiefly Midland : one or the other — used after the second of two alternatives to indicate the necessity of a choice between the two
stay in bed or go to school, one
•
- by one and one
- in one
- one by one
III. “, in sense 1c(2) _wən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English oon, on, from Old English ān, from ān, adjective & pron.
1.
a. : the first whole number above zero and below two : the number denoting unity
b. : a single unit or entire being or thing and no more
has the one but will need another
c.
(1) : a particular unit or entire being or thing singled out (as by way of contrast, difference) from two or more identical or similar units or beings or things
this is the one that is best
(2) : an individual of a particular kind
that's really a splendid one
2.
a. : the numerable quantity symbolized by the arabic numeral 1
b. : the figure 1
c. : the letter I
3. : one o'clock — compare bell table, time illustration
4.
a. : a domino with one spot on one of its halves
b. : a die with one spot on the uppermost side
c. : an article of clothing of the first size ; especially : a baby's shoe of the first size
wears a one
5.
a. : a pound note
b. : a one-dollar bill
6. capitalized : the ultimate being : the first principle of all things : the Absolute : god
7.
a. : devotee , fan
was a one for football — Naomi G. Royde-Smith
b. : an extraordinary or unique or eccentric individual
you're quite the one
you are a one , aren't you
IV. ˈwən transitive verb
( oned ; oned ; oneing ; ones )
Etymology: Middle English onen, from oon, on, adjective — more at one I
: unite
prayer … ones the soul to God — Walter Lippmann