Main Entry:

¹alone

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈlōn\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from al all + one one

Date:

13th century

1: separated from others : isolated2: exclusive of anyone or anything else : only <she alone knows why>3 a: considered without reference to any other <the children alone would eat that much> b: incomparable, unique <alone among their contemporaries in this respect>

— alone·ness \-ˈlōn-nəs\ noun

synonyms alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others. alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms <everyone needs to be alone sometimes>. solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course <glorying in the calm of her solitary life> but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss <left solitary by the death of his wife>. lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship <felt lonely and forsaken>. lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy <an only child often leads a lonesome life>. lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone <a lone robin pecking at the lawn>. forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear <a forlorn lost child>. desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement <desolate after her brother's death>.