Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - alone

 I. adjective  Etymology: Middle English, from al all + one one  Date: 13th century  1. separated from others ; isolated  2. exclusive of anyone or anything else ; only she ~ knows why  3.  a. considered without reference to any other the children ~ would eat that much  b. incomparable, unique ~ among their contemporaries in this respect  • ~ness noun Synonyms:  ~, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others. ~ stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms everyone needs to be ~ 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 ~ 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.  II. adverb  Date: 13th century  1. solely, exclusively the blame is his ~  2. without aid or support said he could do it ~