only

== English == === Alternative forms === onely, onlie (both obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English oonly, only, from Old English ānlīċ, ǣnlīċ (“only; singular; solitary”), from Proto-Germanic *ainalīkaz. Cognate with obsolete Dutch eenlijk, German ähnlich (“similar”), Old Norse álíkr, Swedish enlig (“unified”). By surface analysis, on(e) +‎ -ly. Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈəʊn.li/, (in fast speech) /ˈəʊn.i/ (Northumbria) IPA(key): /ˈɑːn.li/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈoʊn.li/ (Canada) IPA(key): [ˈoːn.li], (dialectal) [ˈɔːn.lɪ] (Indic) IPA(key): /ˈonli/, (dialectal) /(w)ɵnˈli/, /ˈwənli/ ("one-ly") Hyphenation: on‧ly Rhymes: -əʊnli === Adjective === only (not comparable) Alone in a category. Singularly superior; the best. Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender. 1949, Frank B[unker] Gilbreth, Jr., Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper by the Dozen, dedication: To DAD ¶ who only reared twelve children ¶ and ¶ To MOTHER ¶ who reared twelve only children (obsolete) Mere. ==== Synonyms ==== (alone in a category): sole, lone; see also Thesaurus:sole (singularly superior): peerless, unequaled, nonpareil ==== Hyponyms ==== client-only server-only ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adverb === only (not comparable) Without others or anything further; exclusively. No more than; just. 1949, Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper by the Dozen, dedication: To DAD who only reared twelve children and To MOTHER who reared twelve only children As recently as. c. 1924-1955, anonymous, The Urantia Book Only yesterday did I feed you with bread for your bodies; today I offer you the bread of life for your hungry souls. Emphasizing something that is just or necessary. (British) Used to express surprise or consternation at an action. (Ireland, informal) Just, simply, undoubtedly. Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned. (obsolete) Above all others; particularly. ==== Synonyms ==== (without others): See also Thesaurus:solely (no more than): See also Thesaurus:merely (as recently as): (above all others): ==== Derived terms ==== if and only if if only only if only to ==== Translations ==== === Conjunction === only (informal, clause-initial) Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations. Under the condition that; but. (clarification of this definition is needed.) But, except; but in fact. (clarification of this definition is needed.) ==== Related terms ==== if only ==== Translations ==== === Noun === only (plural onlys or onlies) An only child. ==== Translations ==== === Particle === only (Singapore, Singlish) Placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that something is trivial, small, undemanding or deserving of belittlement. Synonyms: that's all, (Singlish) nia ==== Usage notes ==== Compare Malay sahaja, Hokkien 爾 / 尔 (niā), Cantonese 咋 (zaa4) and Mandarin 而已 (éryǐ). ==== Related terms ==== === References === === Further reading === “only”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Anagrams === Lyon, lyon, noyl, ynol == Middle English == === Alternative forms === onli, onlych, onelich, oonly anly, anely (Northern) === Etymology === From Old English ānlīċ, a form of ǣnlīċ; equivalent to on (“one”) +‎ -ly. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɔ̝ːnliː/ IPA(key): /ˈaːnliː/ (Northern) === Adjective === only alone, apart only, sole, unique peerless, singular ==== Descendants ==== English: only Scots: anely