[syn: only, only if, only when]
7. as recently as;
- Example: "I spoke to him only an hour ago"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Only \On"ly\, a. [OE. only, anly, onlich, AS. [=a]nlic, i.e.,
onelike. See One, and Like, a.]
1. One alone; single; as, the only man present; his only
occupation.
[1913 Webster]
2. Alone in its class; by itself; not associated with others
of the same class or kind; as, an only child.
[1913 Webster]
3. Hence, (figuratively): Alone, by reason of superiority;
preeminent; chief. "Motley's the only wear." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Only \On"ly\, adv. [See Only, a.]
1. In one manner or degree; for one purpose alone; simply;
merely; barely.
[1913 Webster]
And to be loved himself, needs only to be known.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. So and no otherwise; no other than; exclusively; solely;
wholly. "She being only wicked." --Beau. & Fl.
[1913 Webster]
Every imagination . . . of his heart was only evil.
--Gen. vi. 5.
[1913 Webster]
3. Singly; without more; as, only-begotten.
[1913 Webster]
4. Above all others; particularly. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
His most only elected mistress. --Marston.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Only \On"ly\, conj.
Save or except (that); -- an adversative used elliptically
with or without that, and properly introducing a single fact
or consideration.
[1913 Webster]
He might have seemed some secretary or clerk . . . only
that his low, flat, unadorned cap . . . indicated that
he belonged to the city. --Sir W.
Scott.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
only
adv 1: and nothing more; "I was merely asking"; "it is simply a
matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child";
"hopes that last but a moment" [syn: merely, simply,
just, only, but]
2: without any others being included or involved; "was entirely
to blame"; "a school devoted entirely to the needs of problem
children"; "he works for Mr. Smith exclusively"; "did it
solely for money"; "the burden of proof rests on the
prosecution alone"; "a privilege granted only to him" [syn:
entirely, exclusively, solely, alone, only]
3: with nevertheless the final result; "He arrived only to find
his wife dead"; "We won only to lose again in the next round"
4: in the final outcome; "These news will only make you more
upset"
5: except that; "It was the same story; only this time she came
out better"
6: never except when; "call me only if your cold gets worse"
[syn: only, only if, only when]
7: as recently as; "I spoke to him only an hour ago"
adj 1: being the only one; single and isolated from others; "the
lone doctor in the entire county"; "a lonesome pine"; "an
only child"; "the sole heir"; "the sole example"; "a
solitary instance of cowardice"; "a solitary speck in the
sky" [syn: lone(a), lonesome(a), only(a),
sole(a), solitary(a)]
2: exclusive of anyone or anything else; "she alone believed
him"; "cannot live by bread alone"; "I'll have this car and
this car only" [syn: alone(p), only]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
95 Moby Thesaurus words for "only":
absolute, after a fashion, alone, appreciably, at any rate,
at best, at least, at most, at the least, at the most,
at the outside, at worst, azygous, barely, but, celibate,
companionless, comparatively, contrariwise, detectably, entirely,
exclusive, exclusively, fairly, first and last, however, impair,
in a manner, in a way, in part, in some measure, incomparable,
incompletely, inimitable, integrally, irreducibly, just, leastwise,
lone, matchless, merely, mildly, moderately, modestly,
not comprehensively, not exhaustively, odd, on the contrary, one,
one and only, only-begotten, part, partially, particular, partly,
peerless, plainly, pro tanto, purely, relatively, separate, simply,
simply and solely, single, singly, singular, so far, sole, solely,
solitary, solo, somewhat, thus far, to a degree, to some degree,
tolerably, totally, transcendent, unaccompanied, unanalyzably,
unattended, undividedly, unequaled, unexampled, unique, unmatched,
unpaired, unparagoned, unparalleled, unrepeatable, unrepeated,
unrivaled, visibly, wholly, yet