solo English · revision 4224

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1695|origins=la solus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsəʊ.ləʊ/, US /ˈsoʊ.loʊ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|solo|t=alone; a piece for one voice or instrument]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|sōlus|t=alone]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) the source of [[sole]] “single”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A piece of music for one voice or instrument: 1695, in Congreve's Love for Love.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A performance by a single person is from 1779,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and a dance by one person from 1794.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) As an adjective it is from 1712, at first in the non-musical sense “alone, unassisted”,^(Etymonline) though Barnhart dates the adjective from 1776, in Burney, of music for one voice.^(Barnhart 1988) The general sense “without a companion”, as in a ''solo flight'', is first recorded in 1909,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and ''to fly solo'' in 1917.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from 1858 in music,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and 1886 in a non-musical sense, as of climbing alone.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Soloist'' is from 1864.^(Barnhart 1988) A card game in which one player plays against the others is also called solo.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1695 – a piece for one performer.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1712 – adjective, alone.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1779 – a performance by one person.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1794 – a solo dance.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1858 – verb, to play a solo.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1864 – ''soloist''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1909 – a solo flight.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece or passage of music for one voice or instrument, with or without accompaniment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A performance by one person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A card game in which one player opposes the others.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Composed for or performed by a single voice or instrument.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Done by one person alone: ''a solo voyage''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Alone; without a companion: ''flew solo''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To perform a solo.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To fly an aircraft alone, especially for the first time.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[soloist]]

+ * [[solo whist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[solitaire]]

+ * [[sole]]

+ * [[solitary]]

+ * [[solitude]]

+ * [[desolate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Solo man, capitalized, is a fossil hominid found near the Solo River in Java in 1931–33.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}