ˈəunlɪ adv.,
adj., & conj. --adv. 1 solely, merely, exclusively;
and no
one or
nothing more besides (I only
want to
sit down; will only
make matters
worse; needed
six only; is only a child). 2 no longer
ago than (saw
them only yesterday). 3
not until (arrives only on Tuesday). 4
with no better
result than (hurried
home only to
find her gone). °In
informal English only is usually placed
between the subject and
verb regardless of
what it refers to (e.g. I only want to
talk to you); in more
formal English it is
often placed more
exactly,
esp. to
avoid ambiguity (e.g. I want to talk only to you). In
speech,
intonation usually serves to
clarify the
sense. --attrib.adj. 1 existing
alone of
its or
their kind (their only son). 2
best or alone
worth knowing (the only
place to eat). --conj. colloq. 1
except that; but
for the
fact that (I
would go, only I
feel ill). 2 but
then (as an
extra consideration) (he
always makes promises, only he
never keeps them). øonly-begotten
literary begotten as the only
child. only
too extremely (is only too willing). [OE anlic, ónlic, ME onliche (as ONE, -LY(2))]
