First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
lone
adjective \ˈlōn\
: standing, acting, or being alone
: not having a partner (such as a husband or wife)
Full Definition of LONE
1
a : having no company : solitary b : preferring solitude
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Origin of LONE
Middle English, short for alone
Related to LONE
Synonym Discussion of LONE
alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others. alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms <everyone needs to be alone sometimes>. solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course <glorying in the calm of her solitary life> but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss <left solitary by the death of his wife>. lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship <felt lonely and forsaken>. lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy <an only child often leads a lonesome life>. lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone <a lone robin pecking at the lawn>. forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear <a forlorn lost child>. desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement <desolate after her brother's death>.
LONE Defined for Kids
lone
adjective \ˈlōn\
Definition of LONE for Kids
1
: having no companion <a lone traveler>
2
: situated by itself <a lone outpost>
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