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sole

1
[ sohl ]
/ soʊl /
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See synonyms for: sole / soles / soleness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of sole

1
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”

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

soleness, noun

Other definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole2
[ sohl ]
/ soʊl /

noun
verb (used with object), soled, sol·ing.
to furnish with a sole, as a shoe.
Golf. to place the sole of (a club) on the ground, as in preparation for a stroke.

Origin of sole

2
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”

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

soleless, adjective

Other definitions for sole (3 of 3)

sole3
[ sohl ]
/ soʊl /

noun, plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) soles.
a European flatfish, Solea solea, used for food.
any other flatfish of the families Soleidae and Cynoglossidae, having a hooklike snout.

Origin of sole

3
First recorded in 1250–1300; see origin at sole2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

sole1
/ (səʊl) /

adjective
(prenominal) being the only one; only
(prenominal) of or relating to one individual or group and no othersole rights on a patent
law having no wife or husbandSee also feme sole
an archaic word for solitary

Derived forms of sole

soleness, noun

Word Origin for sole

C14: from Old French soule, from Latin sōlus alone

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole2
/ (səʊl) /

noun
verb (tr)
to provide (a shoe) with a sole
golf to rest (the club) on the ground, as when preparing to make a stroke

Derived forms of sole

soleless, adjective

Word Origin for sole

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

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

sole3
/ (səʊl) /

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

Word Origin for sole

C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin sola (unattested), from Latin solea a sandal (from the fish's shape)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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