I. ˈōnlē, -li adjective
Etymology: Middle English only, oonly, from Old English ānlīc, from ān one + -līc -ly — more at one
1. : that is unequaled (as in quality, rank) : unquestionably the best or the most outstanding : peerless
was convinced that the team was the only one
: that alone is worth serious consideration
the only actor on Broadway
2. dialect chiefly England : that is without companions or associates : lone , isolated
3. : being one or more of which there exist no others of the same class or kind : alone in an indicated or implied category
is the only authority you can really rely on
said she was the only one for him
was the only book deserving to be read
: sole , single
was an only child
had an only brother
is the only known species
the only begotten son
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English only, oonly, from only, oonly, adjective
1.
a. : as a single solitary fact or instance or occurrence : as just the one simple thing and nothing more or different : simply , merely , just
has only lost one election — George Orwell
if only she had yellow hair — Jean Stafford
saw my father three times only — T.B.Costain
has only two dollars
b. : exclusively , solely
will tell it only to you
is only known to scholars — Stephen Spender
2.
a. : at the very least : without going any further than necessary
it was only too true
it was only too probable that my inquiries would be reported — Allen Upward
b. : by that much indeed : all the more as a matter of fact
such significance only adds to the value of such literature — Herbert Read
the risk only makes the whole thing more interesting
3.
a. : in the final outcome : at last : as a final result
it will only make you sick
a period of personal rule which only ended with revolution — R.A.Billington
b. : with nevertheless the final outcome or result
won a great deal, only to lose it all later on
4. : as recently as
saw her only last week
: in the immediate past
I only just talked to her
III. conjunction
Etymology: Middle English only, oonly, from only, oonly, adverb
1.
a. : with the qualification or restriction that : but
you may go, only come back early
b. : and yet : however
they look very nice, only we can't use them
2. : were it not that : if it weren't for the fact that : except
he would have come over, only we never expected you as early as this — J.G.Cozzens
IV. preposition
Etymology: only (II)
chiefly dialect : except