Wordwyrt

solely

/ˈsəʊəli/SOH-uh-lee
/ˈsoʊəli/SOH-uh-lee

Meaningin a single way

Common meaning: only

Journey through time

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sad-‘go, travel’source
  2. Latinsōlus‘alone, only’
  3. Middle Englishsolesource
  4. Englishsole‘only’
  5. Englishformed in English from solesolely‘only’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Formed in English from sole + -ly.

Dictionary: Skeat (1898), SOLE, p.572 · scan

Roots

  • sōlus Latin “alone, only”

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