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.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Alone in a category.
That was the only time I went to Turkey.
The San Juan market is Mexico City's most famous deli of exotic meats, where an adventurous shopper can hunt down hard-to-find critters such as ostrich, wild boar and crocodile. Only the city zoo offers greater species diversity. 2013 July 26, Nick Miroff, “Mexico gets a taste for eating insects […]”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 32:
He was the only male in attendance at the boyband concert.
He is the only doctor for miles.
The only people in the stadium were the fans: no players, coaches, or officials.
(not-comparable) Singularly superior; the best.
Motley's the only wear. c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
The baron had taken a great liking to the Americans and to their ways of doing things, and frequently asserted that America was the only place to live. 1888, United States. Department of State, Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, page 316:
"People say there's other games," Jack had said to Cassie at Small Falls earlier that day. "But baseball's the only game." 2015, Mike Lupica, The Only Game, →ISBN, pages 58–59:
But as to uſquebagh; ah long life to the liquor—it is an exhilirator of the bovvels, and a ſtomatic to the head; I ſay, Mr. Preſident, it invigorates, it ſtimulates, it—in ſhort it is the onlieſt liquor of life, and no man alive vvill die vvhilſt he drinks it. 1762, [Samuel] Foote, The Orators. […], Dublin: […] Thomas Richey, […], →OCLC, Act III, page 54:
(not-comparable) Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender.
To DAD ¶ who only reared twelve children ¶ and ¶ To MOTHER ¶ who reared twelve only children 1949, Frank B[unker] Gilbreth, Jr., Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper by the Dozen, dedication
He is their only son, in fact, an only child.
(not-comparable, obsolete) Mere.
I know some who wittingly have drawne both profit and preferment from cuckoldrie, the only name whereof is so yrksome and bail-ful to so many men. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 40, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
cy unig (3. without sibling) · grc οἶος (1. alone in a category) · chr ᎤᏩᏌ (1. alone in a category) · sq vetëm (2. singularly superior; the best) · no einaste (1. alone in a category) · mk единствен (1. alone in a category) · is eina (1. alone in a category) · hy մինուճար (3. without sibling) · as মাথোঁ (1. alone in a category) · de Einzelkind (3. without sibling) · ru еди́нственный (3. without sibling) · sq vetëm (1. alone in a category) · el μοναχός (3. without sibling) · es único (3. without sibling) · es señero (1. alone in a category) · ca única (1. alone in a category) · es único (1. alone in a category) · is eini (1. alone in a category) · fur sôl (1. alone in a category) · fi ainoa (3. without sibling) · ru исключи́тельный (2. singularly superior; the best) · cy dim ond (1. alone in a category) · lv vienīgs (1. alone in a category) · bho खाली (1. alone in a category) · txb ṣemeske (1. alone in a category) · grc μόνος (1. alone in a category) · kl -innaq (1. alone in a category) · tl lamang (1. alone in a category) · as অকল (1. alone in a category) · tl laang (1. alone in a category) · ar وَحِيد (1. alone in a category) · pl najlepszy (2. singularly superior; the best) · he יָחִיד (1. alone in a category) · bg еди́нствен (1. alone in a category) · uz faqat (1. alone in a category) · io nura (1. alone in a category) · el μόνος (1. alone in a category) · mt waħdu (3. without sibling) · fa تَنها (1. alone in a category) · vi duy nhất (1. alone in a category) · eo sola (1. alone in a category) · hi एकल (1. alone in a category) · az tək (3. without sibling) · as মাথোন (1. alone in a category) · fi ainut (1. alone in a category) · pt único (2. singularly superior; the best) · az birnömrəli (2. singularly superior; the best) · fa تنها (2. singularly superior; the best) · cmn 最好的 (2. singularly superior; the best) · ht sèl (1. alone in a category) · hi अकेला (2. singularly superior; the best) · hy միակ (1. alone in a category) · hi मात्र (1. alone in a category) · pt filho único (3. without sibling) · ml ഒറ്റ (1. alone in a category) · uk єди́ний (1. alone in a category) · gmw-ecg aanzich (1. alone in a category) · nl enigst (1. alone in a category) · eo nura (1. alone in a category) · pl jedyny (2. singularly superior; the best) · ta ஒரே (3. without sibling) · hi केवल (1. alone in a category) · ca fill únic (3. without sibling) · cs jedináček (3. without sibling) · ru еди́нственный (1. alone in a category) · cmn 獨生的 /独生的 (3. without sibling) · te ఒకే (1. alone in a category) · cy unig (1. alone in a category) · mn гагцхүү (1. alone in a category) · cmn 唯一的 (3. without sibling) · pl jedyny (1. alone in a category) · fr unique (3. without sibling) · be адзі́ны (1. alone in a category) · tr sadece (1. alone in a category) · swb moja moja (3. without sibling) · az yeganə (1. alone in a category) · et ainuke (1. alone in a category) · ro unic (1. alone in a category) · mt waħidha (3. without sibling) · sv enda (1. alone in a category) · hi एकाकी (1. alone in a category) · tl lang (1. alone in a category) · ta ஒரே (1. alone in a category) · mi huatahi (3. without sibling) · mt weħidha (3. without sibling) · cs jediný (1. alone in a category) · ru наилу́чший (2. singularly superior; the best) · hu egyetlen (2. singularly superior; the best) · ko 하나밖에 없는 (1. alone in a category) · cmn 獨一無二的 /独一无二的 (2. singularly superior; the best) · fi ainokainen (3. without sibling) · de einzig (1. alone in a category) · ca única (2. singularly superior; the best) · ca únic (2. singularly superior; the best) · hi एकलौता (3. without sibling) · el μοναδικός (1. alone in a category) · scn sulu (1. alone in a category) · mi tautahi (3. without sibling) · te ఒక్కగానొక్క (1. alone in a category) · tr tek (3. without sibling) · ml ഒരൊറ്റ (1. alone in a category) · az bircə (1. alone in a category) · vi tốt nhất (2. singularly superior; the best) · bho सिरिफ (1. alone in a category) · hu egyetlen (3. without sibling) · ckb تەنھا (1. alone in a category) · ff tan (1. alone in a category) · ka ერთადერთი (1. alone in a category) · sk jediný (1. alone in a category) · fi ainokainen (1. alone in a category) · mn зөвхөн (1. alone in a category) · mi pūharu (2. singularly superior; the best) · it solo (3. without sibling) · fi ainoa (1. alone in a category) · ja 唯一の (1. alone in a category) · no eneste (1. alone in a category) · fi ainutlaatuinen (2. singularly superior; the best) · ko 유일한 (1. alone in a category) · sv bara (1. alone in a category) · it unico (1. alone in a category) · nah ça (1. alone in a category) · izh ainava (1. alone in a category) · ang ān (1. alone in a category) · mi anake (1. alone in a category) · ml ഏക (3. without sibling) · sl edin (1. alone in a category) · izh ainava (3. without sibling) · sh jedini (1. alone in a category) · vi một (3. without sibling) · mr एकमात्र (1. alone in a category) · id satu-satunya (1. alone in a category) · hi श्रेष्ठ (2. singularly superior; the best) · tr tek (1. alone in a category) · de einzigartig (2. singularly superior; the best) · pt melhor (2. singularly superior; the best) · te ఏకైక (1. alone in a category) · ru еди́нственный (2. singularly superior; the best) · ml ഏക (1. alone in a category) · et ainus (1. alone in a category) · sq vetëm (3. without sibling) · mt waħedha (3. without sibling) · id tunggal (3. without sibling) · fr seul (1. alone in a category) · frm unicque (1. alone in a category) · ota یالڭز (1. alone in a category) · hy միամոր (3. without sibling) · de geschwisterlos (3. without sibling) · qu sapa (1. alone in a category) · la ūnicus (1. alone in a category) · it figlio unico (3. without sibling) · ff tun (1. alone in a category) · hy միակ (3. without sibling) · ca filla única (3. without sibling) · sat ᱮᱠᱚ (1. alone in a category) · got 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌷𐍃 (1. alone in a category) · is einu (1. alone in a category) · sw peke (1. alone in a category) · nl enig (1. alone in a category) · mi anahe (1. alone in a category) · fr unique (1. alone in a category) · ro singur (1. alone in a category) · ca únic (1. alone in a category) · ru еди́ный (1. alone in a category) · mnk dorong (1. alone in a category) · da eneste (1. alone in a category) · cmn 唯一 (1. alone in a category) · ml ഒറ്റ (3. without sibling) · pt único (1. alone in a category) · hi अकेला (1. alone in a category) · pih uni (1. alone in a category) · sh једини (1. alone in a category) · hu egyetlen (1. alone in a category) · nah çan (1. alone in a category)
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.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Without others or anything further; exclusively.
The cat sat only on the mat. It kept off the sofa.
My heart is hers, and hers only.
The only scientist to have won three Nobel prizes.
In his submission to the UN, [Christof] Heyns points to the experience of drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles were intended initially only for surveillance, and their use for offensive purposes was prohibited, yet once strategists realised their perceived advantages as a means of carrying out targeted killings, all objections were swept out of the way. 2013 June 7, Ed Pilkington, “‘Killer robots’ should be banned in advance, UN told”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 6:
I threw out only him.
(not-comparable) No more than; just.
[…] oot of a' six suspects there's not one that's been proved to ha' been nigh the place where the corpse was found, only Mr Graham. 1931, Dorothy L Sayers, chapter 24, in The Five Red Herrings:
‘No. I only opened the door a foot and put my head in. The street lamps shine into that room. I could see him. He was all right. Sleeping like a great grampus. Poor, poor chap.’ 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 20, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
To DAD
who only reared twelve children
and
To MOTHER
who reared twelve only children 1949, Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper by the Dozen, dedication
If there were only one more ticket!
Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster. 2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:
The cat only sat on the mat. It didn't scratch it.
(not-comparable) As recently as.
The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania. The first barrels of crude fetched $18 (around $450 at today’s prices). 2013 August 3, “Yesterday’s fuel”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847:
He left only moments ago.
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.
(not-comparable) Emphasizing something that is just or necessary.
It's only fair to let him borrow your kite, after you've had his toys all day.
He'd been belittling her for years. It's only natural that she left.
(UK, not-comparable) Used to express surprise or consternation at an action.
The van said ‘BURT’S BURGERS’ on one side and ‘BURT’S PEST CONTROL’ on the other. Zoe stared at the van. The creepy man was only using the same vehicle for catching rats that he did for frying burgers! 2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:
(not-comparable) Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.
They rallied from a three-goal deficit only to lose in the final two minutes of play.
I spent years studying a degree only to learn there was no requirement for such a certification.
I helped him out only for him to betray me.
He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on, with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive. 2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
(not-comparable, obsolete) Above all others; particularly.
his most only elected mistress 1604 (date written), Iohn Marston [i.e., John Marston], Parasitaster, or The Fawne, […], London: […] T[homas] P[urfoot] for W[illiam] C[otton], published 1606, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
be то́лькі (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cs teprve (as recently as) · km គ្រាន់តែ (no more than) · ru лишь (without others or anything further; exclusively) · vi chỉ (no more than) · sv endast (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ms hanya (without others or anything further; exclusively) · el μονάχα (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ru то́лько (without others or anything further; exclusively) · de lediglich (no more than) · ca solament (no more than) · grc μόνον (no more than) · dsb jano (no more than) · ms sahaja (no more than) · it soltanto (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ko ...만 (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ko 겨우 (no more than) · vec sólo (no more than) · he רַק (without others or anything further; exclusively) · az ancaq (without others or anything further; exclusively) · eu soilik (without others or anything further; exclusively) · es solamente (without others or anything further; exclusively) · es sólo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · hy մենակ (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ro numai (without others or anything further; exclusively) · hi ही (without others or anything further; exclusively) · es solo (no more than) · gun anho (without others or anything further; exclusively) · hy միայն (no more than) · mr केवळ (no more than) · fi edes (no more than) · oj eta (no more than) · mt biss (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sh само (no more than) · nl louter (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sv bara (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ru то́лько (no more than) · hi केवल (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sk iba (without others or anything further; exclusively) · prs فقط (without others or anything further; exclusively) · nl slechts (no more than) · is bara (no more than) · ppl cema (without others or anything further; exclusively) · bg са́мо (without others or anything further; exclusively) · yue 淨係 /净系 (without others or anything further; exclusively) · id hanya (without others or anything further; exclusively) · rue лиш (without others or anything further; exclusively) · lo ເທົ່ານັ້ນ (no more than) · ta தான் (as recently as) · ta மட்டும் (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ca fa just (as recently as) · pdt blooss (no more than) · el μόνο (no more than) · ms sahaja (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ast namás (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sq vetëm (without others or anything further; exclusively) · mi anahe (without others or anything further; exclusively) · pt somente (as recently as) · it solo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · tpw anhõ (without others or anything further; exclusively) · pl tylko (no more than) · fr que (no more than) · cy yn unig (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ff tan (without others or anything further; exclusively) · da bare (without others or anything further; exclusively) · vi chỉ (without others or anything further; exclusively) · az sırf (without others or anything further; exclusively) · izh ikkee (without others or anything further; exclusively) · de nur (no more than) · cmn 惟獨 /惟独 (without others or anything further; exclusively) · vi chỉ mới (as recently as) · pdt blooss (without others or anything further; exclusively) · my ရုံ (no more than) · frm unicquement (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ppl semaya (without others or anything further; exclusively) · de nur (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ko 오직 (without others or anything further; exclusively) · de allein (without others or anything further; exclusively) · la tantum (without others or anything further; exclusively) · roa-tar sule (without others or anything further; exclusively) · gl só (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sq vetëm (no more than) · ar فَقَط (without others or anything further; exclusively) · pt apenas (as recently as) · ja ...だけ (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ca solament (without others or anything further; exclusively) · la sōlum (no more than) · cy dim ond (no more than) · sl samo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · et ainult (without others or anything further; exclusively) · rue лем (without others or anything further; exclusively) · th เท่านั้น (no more than) · de lediglich (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cmn 只 (no more than) · hy միայն (as recently as) · lv tikai (without others or anything further; exclusively) · nl net (as recently as) · no bare (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ru то́лько (as recently as) · ca sols (without others or anything further; exclusively) · lv vienīgi (without others or anything further; exclusively) · mk само (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cs jedině (without others or anything further; exclusively) · prs خالی (without others or anything further; exclusively) · es únicamente (without others or anything further; exclusively) · scn sulu (without others or anything further; exclusively) · pt apenas (no more than) · fi juuri (as recently as) · de erst (as recently as) · ml മാത്രം (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sh samo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ht sèlman (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ppl sema (without others or anything further; exclusively) · tr yalnızca (as recently as) · fi vain (as recently as) · cmn 只有 (without others or anything further; exclusively) · la tantummodo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ar فَقَط (no more than) · pl tylko (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ur صرف (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ur صرف (no more than) · tr sadece (without others or anything further; exclusively) · pro solament (without others or anything further; exclusively) · et üksnes (without others or anything further; exclusively) · hy մենակ (no more than) · ka -ღა (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ppl cemaya (without others or anything further; exclusively) · nl enkel (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cdo 儷 /俪 (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cs jen (without others or anything further; exclusively) · it solamente (no more than) · vo te (no more than) · it solamente (without others or anything further; exclusively) · acw بَسّ (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ms sahaja (as recently as) · hu csak (as recently as) · nl alleen maar (without others or anything further; exclusively) · es únicamente (no more than) · yue 淨係 /净系 (no more than) · ast sólo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · et vaid (without others or anything further; exclusively) · fr seulement (no more than) · fi vasta (as recently as) · la solum (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ka მხოლოდ (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sq vetëm (as recently as) · ia solmente (without others or anything further; exclusively) · fi vain (no more than) · bg са́мо (no more than) · hi केवल (no more than) · hi एकमात्र (without others or anything further; exclusively) · mr फक्त (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ca tan sols (without others or anything further; exclusively) · izh aima (without others or anything further; exclusively) · nl maar (no more than) · uk ті́льки (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cs jen (no more than) · cs pouze (without others or anything further; exclusively) · nl alleen (without others or anything further; exclusively) · la modo (no more than) · ko 고작 (no more than) · ms hanya (no more than) · es nomás (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ja ...しか (no more than) · fi vain (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ca només (no more than) · mr केवळ (without others or anything further; exclusively) · bg еди́нствено (without others or anything further; exclusively) · hy միայն (without others or anything further; exclusively) · la modo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · tr bir tek (without others or anything further; exclusively) · es solo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · grc μόνον (without others or anything further; exclusively) · tr sadece (no more than) · mi anake (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ca fa només (as recently as) · tr yalnızca (without others or anything further; exclusively) · el μόνο (without others or anything further; exclusively) · uk лише́ (without others or anything further; exclusively) · es solo (as recently as) · da kun (without others or anything further; exclusively) · id hanya (no more than) · fa فقط (no more than) · fi ainoastaan (without others or anything further; exclusively) · hu csak (without others or anything further; exclusively) · es tan solo (without others or anything further; exclusively) · el μόνο (as recently as) · pt somente (without others or anything further; exclusively) · lv vien (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ca sols (no more than) · gsw bloos (no more than) · got 𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹 (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cmn 只有 (no more than) · az bircə (without others or anything further; exclusively) · pt apenas (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ff tun (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sh само (without others or anything further; exclusively) · hu csak (no more than) · tr yalnızca (no more than) · fr seulement (without others or anything further; exclusively) · nl pas (as recently as) · ro numai (no more than) · fa-ira فقط (without others or anything further; exclusively) · he רַק (no more than) · is aðeins (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ja ...だけ (no more than) · sk len (without others or anything further; exclusively) · sh sámo (no more than) · az yalnız (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ta தான் (no more than) · ist sulo (no more than) · cs jenom (without others or anything further; exclusively) · eo nur (without others or anything further; exclusively) · fr uniquement (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cy dim ond (without others or anything further; exclusively) · izh vaa (without others or anything further; exclusively) · cdo 儷 /俪 (no more than) · ms hanya (as recently as) · ru всего́ (as recently as) · ca únicament (no more than) · fr ne...que (without others or anything further; exclusively) · ca únicament (without others or anything further; exclusively) · tr sadece (as recently as) · pt somente (no more than) · cs až (as recently as) · es apenas (as recently as) · ca només (without others or anything further; exclusively) · pl dopiero (as recently as) · mr फक्त (no more than) · es solamente (no more than) · ru лишь (no more than)
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.
Meanings
(informal, qualifier:clause-initial) Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations. ▸ Under the condition that; but.
You're welcome to borrow my bicycle, only please take care of it.
(informal, qualifier:clause-initial) Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations. ▸ But, except; but in fact.
She would get good results only she gets nervous.
I would enjoy running, only I have this broken leg.
And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 8:28:
[…] and pleasant it was, only for the dust. 1664 April 22, The Diary of Samuel Pepys:
ar فَقَط (but) · bg но (but) · acw لكن (but) · ta ஆனால் (but) · fi sillä ehdolla, että (but) · pt todavia (however) · uk але́ (but) · el μόνο (however) · cs jenže (however) · fi paitsi että (except) · hu csak (but) · pt porém (but) · sq vetëm (except) · ru за исключе́нием того́, что (except) · fi mutta (but) · hi फकत (except) · ca però (however) · fr sauf que (except) · fr mais (however) · pt salvo que (except) · uk одна́к (however) · be адна́к (however) · sq vetëm (but) · fi mutta (except) · hu kivéve (except) · cy ond (but) · bg обаче (however) · ca però (but) · hi पर (but) · fi mutta (however) · km គ្រាន់តែ (but) · ru но (however) · el εκτός (except) · km តែ (but) · el εκτός (but) · uk проте́ (however) · ru но (but) · el αλλά (but) · pt porém (however) · pl tyle że (except) · ar فَقَط (except) · fi jos (but) · id anging (except) · pt mas (however) · el μόνο (but) · hu csak (however) · pt mas (but) · el αλλά (however) · pt exceto que (except) · sq vetëm (however) · ca excepte (except) · pt todavia (but) · ru то́лько вот (however) · ru одна́ко (however) · km តែ (however) · ca si no fos que (however) · pt só que (but) · acw بسّ (but) · be але́ (but)
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.
Meanings
An only child.
The consistent finding […] that infants who are onlies do not differ from those who have siblings despite their lesser history of exposure to differential treatment is perplexing. 2013, Sybil L. Hart, Maria Legerstee, Handbook of Jealousy:
And in 2016, researchers in China took MRI brain scans and found that, compared with kids with siblings, onlies showed greater flexibility—a measurement of creativity—but lower agreeableness. 2022 November 1, Chiara Dello Joio, “Why Are People Weird About Only Children?”, in The Atlantic:
Sometimes, secondborns marry onlys and the conflicts are similar. 1995, Don Martin, Maggie Martin, Pat Jeffers, Is Your Family Making You Fat?, page 101:
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.
Meanings
(Singapore, Singlish) Placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that something is trivial, small, undemanding or deserving of belittlement.
“No, you must listen to me,” the other replied. “I am Goh Chok Tong.”
“I am the President, even bigger than you.”
“President only! I am president of all the countries of the world!” 2022, Daren Shiau, chapter VIII, in Heartland, Ethos Books, →ISBN: