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, soling 

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

sole ,

plural

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

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 /

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. law having no wife or husband See also feme sole

4. an archaic word for solitary

sole

³

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• soleness noun
• soleless adjective

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: from Old French soule, from Latin sōlus alone

Origin of sole³

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

Example Sentences

The former white-collar fighter - with no amateur pedigree - has stopped 19 opponents in 20 wins, with the sole blemish a thrilling draw with Clarke in March 2024.

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"Responding emergency services located the body of the pilot, believed to be the sole occupant of the aircraft," police said.

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Hamilton said almost nothing in his sole media interview after the session.

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This should lead to, among other thing, higher after-tax earnings for sole proprietors and small firms; stronger loan demand for community banks; and better exit economics for early stage investors, SocGen reckons.

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"We are not a property development company, and our sole focus is moving forward to progress the appropriate works. Residents will be provided with regular updates."

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Related Words

• exclusive 
• lone 
• one and only 
• remaining www.thesaurus.com