sole English · revision 6177

+ English has three words spelled sole: the underside of the foot and the flatfish, both from Latin solea, and the adjective meaning only, from Latin sōlus.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ {{homograph|1|bottom of the foot}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1325|origins=la solum}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The underside of the foot is [[bor|fro|sole]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from Vulgar Latin [[m|la-vul|*sola]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) for [[la|solea|t=sandal, bottom of a shoe; sill]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|solum|t=bottom, ground, soil]], of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) De Vaan, quoted by Etymonline, derives solum from PIE *se/ol-o- “place, settlement”.^(Etymonline) The SOED suggests it was probably already in Old English, which has solen once in the plural.^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The underside of the foot: about 1325.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Century Dictionary, quoted by Etymonline, calls it technically the planta, corresponding to the palm of the hand.^(Etymonline) The bottom of a boot or shoe is from 1378–79 in Barnhart and about 1440 in the OED,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and puns on [[soul]] are from at least 1603, as in Shakespeare's ''Merchant of Venice''.^(OED 1989) A foundation or sill is from the 15th century, and the lower part or bottom of anything, such as a plough or a golf club head, from the 17th.^(Hoad 1986)^(AHD) The verb, to put a sole on, is from 1570 in Levins's dictionary.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1325 – the underside of the foot.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1378–79 – the bottom of a shoe.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1570 – the verb, to sole.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1603 – punned on soul.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The underside of the [[foot]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The underside of a shoe or boot, often not counting the heel.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The bottom or lower surface of something, as of a [[plough]] or a golf club.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put a new sole on a shoe or boot.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ {{homograph|2|one and only}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1395|origins=la sōlus}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is Middle English soul, sole, [[bor|fro|soul|t=only, alone]] (feminine soule; modern French seul),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[la|sōlus|t=alone, only, single]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a word of unknown origin, perhaps related to [[m|la|sē|t=oneself]] or [[m|la|sed|t=without]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Single, unmarried: about 1395 in Chaucer's ''Canterbury Tales'',^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the SOED says especially of a woman.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of one and only, as in ''one's sole support'', is in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew, before 1398.^(Barnhart 1988) Alone or solitary is from the 15th century,^(Hoad 1986) and exclusive, belonging to one person or group, as ''sole rights'', from the 16th.^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023) In law a ''feme sole'' is an unmarried woman.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002) The same Latin gave [[solitary]], [[desolate]] and [[solo]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1395 – unmarried, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1398 – one and only, in Trevisa.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 15th century – alone, solitary.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 16th century – exclusive.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Being the only one.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Belonging to one person or group only; [[exclusive]]: ''sole rights''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' Unmarried.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[solely]]

+ * [[sole trader]]

+

+ {{homograph|3|flatfish}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1252|origins=la solea}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The fish is [[bor|fro|sole]], from Old Provençal [[m|pro|sola]],^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|solea|t=a kind of flatfish; sandal]] (see [[sole#1]]), so called from its resemblance to a sandal or flat shoe.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A European flatfish: 1252 in Barnhart, the mid-13th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that the word was borrowed again for the fish because its shape recalls the sole of a foot.^(Cresswell 2021) The name now covers various mainly tongue-shaped flatfish, such as the Dover sole and lemon sole.^(SOED 2002)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1252 – the flatfish.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An edible [[flatfish]] of the family Soleidae, such as the Dover sole, or a similar fish.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Dover sole]]

+ * [[lemon sole]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[soil]]

+ * [[solitary]]

+ * [[solo]]

+ * [[desolate]]

+ * [[sullen]]

+ * [[solitaire]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}