sole

¹

[ sohl ]

adjective

1. being the only one; only:

   the sole living relative.

   Synonyms: solitary

2. being the only one of the kind; unsurpassed; unique; matchless:

   the sole brilliance of the gem.

   Synonyms: individual

3. belonging or pertaining to one individual or group to the exclusion of all others; exclusive:

   the sole right to the estate.

4. functioning automatically or with independent power:

   the sole authority.

5. Chiefly Law. not married; unmarried.
6. without company or companions; lonely:

   the sole splendor of her life.

7. Archaic. alone.

sole

²

[ sohl ]

noun

1. the bottom or under surface of the foot.
2. the corresponding under part of a shoe, boot, or the like, or this part exclusive of the heel.
3. the bottom, under surface, or lower part of anything.
4. Carpentry.
   1. the underside of a plane.
   2. soleplate.
5. Golf. the part of the head of the club that touches the ground.

verb (used with object)

, soled, sol·ing.

1. to furnish with a sole, as a shoe.
2. Golf. to place the sole of (a club) on the ground, as in preparation for a stroke.

sole

³

[ sohl ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) soles.

1. a European flatfish, Solea solea, used for food.
2. any other flatfish of the families Soleidae and Cynoglossidae, having a hooklike snout.

sole

¹

/ səʊl /

noun

1. the underside of the foot plantarvolar
2. the underside of a shoe
3. 1. the bottom of a furrow
   2. the bottom of a plough
4. the underside of a golf-club head
5. the bottom of an oven, furnace, etc

verb

1. to provide (a shoe) with a sole
2. golf to rest (the club) on the ground, as when preparing to make a stroke

sole

²

/ səʊl /

noun

1. any tongue-shaped flatfish of the family Soleidae, esp Solea solea ( European sole ): most common in warm seas and highly valued as food fishes
2. any of certain other similar fishes

sole

³

/ səʊl /

adjective

1. prenominal being the only one; only
2. prenominal of or relating to one individual or group and no other

   sole rights on a patent

3. See feme sole
   law having no wife or husband See also feme sole
4. See solitary
   an archaic word for solitary

Derived Forms

• ˈsoleless, adjective
• ˈsoleness, noun

Other Words From

• soleness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sole¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English sol(e), soul(e) “unmarried, single, alone,” from Old French sol, sol(e), sul, from Latin sōlus “alone, on one's own, lonely”

Origin of sole²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English (noun) sole, sol(le), from Old French sole, sol(le), soul, from Vulgar Latin, Medieval Latin sola, from Latin solea “plain sandal (fastened with thongs); sole (fish); foundation (timber),” derivative of solum “base, floor, bottom”

Origin of sole³

First recorded in 1250–1300; sole ²( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sole¹

C14: via Old French from Latin solea sandal; probably related to solum the ground

Origin of sole²

C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin sola (unattested), from Latin solea a sandal (from the fish's shape)

Origin of sole³

C14: from Old French soule, from Latin sōlus alone

Example Sentences

In 1969, the Rocket Chemical Company was renamed for WD-40, which by then was its sole product.

From Popular-Science

His sole visit to the region was the 2018 G-20 summit in Buenos Aires.

From Time

Sanchez, a Democrat, was the sole vote against Jensen’s appointment.

From Voice of San Diego

Hughes has long touted his sole focus on representing tenants.

From Voice of San Diego

The research suggests that groups like QAnon are based on a worldview that extends beyond one sole prediction.

From FiveThirtyEight

Jourdan Dunn is the first sole black woman to feature on a British ‘Vogue’ cover in 12 years.

From The Daily Beast

It stands for the proposition that the biological basis of procreation should also be the sole organizing principle of society.

From The Daily Beast

No wonder criminal-justice reform is no longer the sole concern of balladeers and bleeding hearts.

From The Daily Beast

Well, so much for Obama being the sole culprit for why we think America is on the wrong track.

From The Daily Beast

A moment ago the drawing-room had seemed empty; Mrs. Luke, in her sole person, filled and illuminated it.

From The Daily Beast

"Better so," was the Senora's sole reply; and she fell again into still deeper, more perplexed thought about the hidden treasure.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a time when Aristide Pujol, in sole charge of an automobile, went gaily scuttering over the roads of France.

From Project Gutenberg

It is to be feared that the attractions of the house-dinner were not the sole inducement to many of those sitting there.

From Project Gutenberg

It was well that Monsieur de Biancourt was wiser than many of his crew, whose sole cry was to kill them all.

From Project Gutenberg

Ellis's patent boot studs to save the sole, and the Euknemida, or concave-convex fastening springs, are the latest novelties.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• exclusive
• lone
• one and only
• remaining