lone English · revision 15033

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1377}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ləʊn/, US /loʊn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a shortening of [[alone]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) by mistaken division of alone as a lone, or by loss of the weakly stressed a-.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023) It is used before a noun, while alone is used after a verb, as [[live]] beside [[alive]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Having no companion, solitary: 1377 in the OED, about 1378 in a version of Piers Plowman in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Unmarried, single or widowed, is from 1548, and is now said only of women, with mock-pathetic effect.^(OED 1989) Standing apart from others of its kind is from 1667.^(OED 1989) The ''Lone Star'' of the Texas flag is from 1843,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the figurative ''lone wolf'' is American English from 1901.^(Etymonline) Lonely is from 1607, in Shakespeare's Coriolanus,^(Barnhart 1988) and lonesome from 1647.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1377 – solitary.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1548 – unmarried, widowed.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – lonely.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1647 – lonesome.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1843 – Lone Star.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1901 – lone wolf.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Without companions; solitary: ''a lone motorist''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Being the only one; sole.^(AHD)

+ # Standing by itself; isolated: ''a lone house''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(literary)'' [[lonely|alt=Lonely]].^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+ # Unmarried or widowed.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[loneness]]

+ * [[loner]]

+ * [[lone star tick]]

+ * [[lone wolf]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alone]]

+ * [[lonely]]

+ * [[lonesome]]

+ * [[one]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}