sole

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

adjective

being the only one; only: the sole living relative.

being the only one of the kind; unique; unsurpassed; matchless: the sole brilliance of the gem.

belonging or pertaining to one individual or group to the exclusion of all others; exclusive: the sole right to the estate.

functioning automatically or with independent power: the sole authority.

Chiefly Law. unmarried; not married.

without company or companions; lonely: the sole splendor of her life.

Archaic. alone.

Origin of sole

1350–1400; < Latin sōlus alone; replacing Middle English soule alone < Old French sol < Latin sōlus

SYNONYMS FOR sole

1 solitary.

2 individual.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR sole ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

sole·ness, noun

Words nearby sole

soldiering, soldierly, soldiers' home, soldiery, soldo, sole, sole custody, sole trader, sole-charge school, sole-source, solecism

Definition for sole (2 of 3)

sole ²

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

noun

the bottom or under surface of the foot.

the corresponding under part of a shoe, boot, or the like, or this part exclusive of the heel.

the bottom, under surface, or lower part of anything.

Carpentry.

the underside of a plane.
soleplate.

Golf. the part of the head of the club that touches the ground.

verb (used with object), soled, sol·ing.

to furnish with a sole, as a shoe.

Golf. to place the sole of (a club) on the ground, as in preparation for a stroke.

Origin of sole

1275–1325; Middle English (noun) < Old French < Latin solea sandal, sole, derivative of solum base, bottom

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

sole·less, adjective

Definition for sole (3 of 3)

sole ³

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

noun, plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) soles.

a European flatfish, Solea solea, used for food.

any other flatfish of the families Soleidae and Cynoglossidae, having a hooklike snout.

Origin of sole

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French < Old Provençal < Vulgar Latin *sola (for Latin solea; see sole²), so called from its flat shape; compare Spanish suela, Italian soglia, Portuguese solha

Example sentences from the Web for sole

It stands for the proposition that the biological basis of procreation should also be the sole organizing principle of society.

Is Pope Francis Backpedaling on Gays? |Jay Michaelson |November 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
No wonder criminal-justice reform is no longer the sole concern of balladeers and bleeding hearts.

Here’s a Reform Even the Koch Brothers and George Soros Can Agree On |Tina Brown |November 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Well, so much for Obama being the sole culprit for why we think America is on the wrong track.

We've Been on the Wrong Track Since 1972 |Dean Obeidallah |November 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
A moment ago the drawing-room had seemed empty; Mrs. Luke, in her sole person, filled and illuminated it.

The Best-Dressed Way to Say Goodbye |Justin Jones |October 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

He said that Dr. Phil had interviewed an abusive husband, but said that he was not the sole focus of the show.

The Mommy Blogger Who Tried to Kill Her Autistic Daughter Talks to Dr. Phil |Elizabeth Picciuto |October 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
That was the sole purpose, although I and the rest of us are getting special instruction to keep us occupied.

Warning from the Stars |Ron Cocking
And to be sure when a man rises from the dead thus uninvited—your brother was the sole heir of our late master!

The Robbers |Friedrich Schiller
Her sole evidence of being alive was her habit of staying in church until the doors were closed and she could stay no longer.

The Torrent |Vicente Blasco Ibaez
What does it matter when the beef is so tough that you might sole your boots with it?

Punch, or the London Charivari, October 21st 1893 |Various
Sometimes one general, luckier or wiser than the rest, appeared the sole governor of the State.

The Eighteen Christian Centuries |James White

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

sole ¹

/ (səʊl) /

adjective

(prenominal) being the only one; only

(prenominal) of or relating to one individual or group and no other sole rights on a patent

law having no wife or husband See also feme sole

an archaic word for solitary

Derived forms of sole

soleness, noun

Word Origin for sole

C14: from Old French soule, from Latin sōlus alone

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole ²

/ (səʊl) /

noun

the underside of the foot Related adjectives: plantar, volar

the underside of a shoe

the bottom of a furrow
the bottom of a plough

the underside of a golf-club head

the bottom of an oven, furnace, etc

verb (tr)

to provide (a shoe) with a sole

golf to rest (the club) on the ground, as when preparing to make a stroke

Derived forms of sole

soleless, adjective

Word Origin for sole

C14: via Old French from Latin solea sandal; probably related to solum the ground

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

sole ³

/ (səʊl) /

noun plural sole or soles

any tongue-shaped flatfish of the family Soleidae, esp Solea solea (European sole): most common in warm seas and highly valued as food fishes

any of certain other similar fishes

Word Origin for sole

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

Medical definitions for sole

sole

[ sōl ]

n.

The underside of the foot.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

sole

adjective

Origin of sole

SYNONYMS FOR sole

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

Words nearby sole

Definition for sole (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), soled, sol·ing.

Origin of sole

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

Definition for sole (3 of 3)

noun, plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) soles.

Origin of sole

Example sentences from the Web for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

adjective

Derived forms of sole

Word Origin for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of sole

Word Origin for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

noun plural sole or soles

Word Origin for sole

Medical definitions for sole

n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

sole

adjective

Origin of sole

SYNONYMS FOR sole

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

Words nearby sole

Definition for sole (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), soled, sol·ing.

Origin of sole

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

Definition for sole (3 of 3)

noun, plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) soles.

Origin of sole

Words related to sole

Example sentences from the Web for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

adjective

Derived forms of sole

Word Origin for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of sole

Word Origin for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

noun plural sole or soles

Word Origin for sole

Medical definitions for sole

n.