alone

alone

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "alone" is /əˈloʊn/.

• First syllable: /ə/ (the 'a' sound, a schwa)

• Second syllable: /loʊn/ (the 'l' sound, the 'oa' as in "boat" sound, and the 'n' sound)

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Word Form Variations

"Alone" is primarily an adjective and an adverb. It does not typically have singular or plural forms, as it describes a state rather than a countable noun.

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adjective

• Definition 1: Separated from others; by oneself or itself; without the presence or company of anyone or anything else.

• Synonyms: solitary, isolated, unaccompanied, by oneself, on one's own

• Antonyms: accompanied, together, with others, collective

• Definition 2: Unique or unmatched in a particular quality or characteristic; peerless.

• Synonyms: unique, singular, unparalleled, unmatched, peerless, incomparable

• Antonyms: common, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, shared

Adverb

• Definition 1: Without the presence or company of others; solely or exclusively.

• Synonyms: solely, exclusively, only, individually, by oneself

• Antonyms: together, collectively, jointly, with others

• Definition 2: Considering only the specified item or factor, to the exclusion of others.

• Synonyms: merely, simply, purely, just

• Antonyms: additionally, including, along with

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Examples of Use

• Books:

• "It was a dark and stormy night, and the old house stood alone on the hill, its windows like vacant eyes." (Implied source: A classic gothic novel)

• "In One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez masterfully portrays the Buendía family's gradual isolation, with many characters ultimately facing their destinies alone." (Implied source: Literary criticism or analysis)

• Newspapers:

• "The city council met yesterday to discuss the new budget, with the mayor emphasizing that the decision could not be made by the council alone but required public input." (Implied source: Local newspaper article)

• "Headline: 'New Study Reveals Why Many Seniors Feel Alone Even When Surrounded by Family.'" (Implied source: Health section of a national newspaper)

• Online Publications:

• "Blog Post Title: 'Learning to Travel Alone: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Empowerment.'" (Implied source: Travel blog)

• "In an article on The Verge, the author stated, 'The rise of AI isn't just about technological advancement alone; it's about the ethical implications for society.'" (Implied source: Technology news website article)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "In the movie Cast Away, Tom Hanks' character is left completely alone on a deserted island, forcing him to adapt to extreme solitude." (Implied source: Film review or synopsis)

• Music: "The lyrics of the popular song lament, 'I've been walking this road alone for too long, searching for a sign.'" (Implied source: Song lyrics)

• Television Series: "During the latest episode of the crime drama, the detective realized that the victim hadn't been murdered by the suspect alone; there was an accomplice." (Implied source: TV show recap or discussion)

• Video Games: "In many survival-horror games, the player is often forced to navigate dark environments alone, heightening the sense of fear and vulnerability." (Implied source: Video game review or commentary)

• General Public Discourse:

• "After the party, she just wanted to be left alone to decompress." (Implied source: Everyday conversation)

• "He told me, 'You're not alone in feeling that way; many people share your concerns.'" (Implied source: Supportive conversation)

• "The success of the project wasn't due to his efforts alone, but to the entire team's dedication." (Implied source: Workplace discussion or presentation)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Alone

1. "The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone." — Henrik Ibsen

2. "We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness." — Albert Schweitzer

3. "If you are lonely when you’re alone, you are in bad company." — Jean-Paul Sartre

4. "I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself." — Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

5. "It is far better to be alone than to be in bad company." — George Washington

6. "You cannot be lonely if you like the person you're alone with." — Wayne Dyer

7. "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." — Helen Keller

8. "Don’t feel alone — the entire universe is inside you." — Rumi

9. "To live alone is the fate of all great souls." — Arthur Schopenhauer

10. "The eternal quest of the human being is to shatter his loneliness." — Norman Cousins

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Etymology

The word "alone" has a pretty straightforward and interesting history! It essentially comes from combining two older English words: "all" and "one."

Think of it like this: originally, people would say things like "all one," meaning "completely by oneself" or "entirely one." Over time, this phrase got squished together and shortened into "alone."

The "all" part meant "wholly" or "completely," and the "one" part referred to being a single individual. So, when you put them together, you get the idea of being wholly one or entirely by oneself.

The first known use of "alone" in English can be traced back to the Middle English period, which was roughly from 1150 to 1500. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) points to evidence from around 1175 in a text called the Ormulum. At that time, its meaning was much like it is today: "unaccompanied, solitary; without companions."

It's also interesting to note that the word "lone" actually came from "alone." "Lone" is a shortened version that lost the "a-" at the beginning, possibly through a natural softening of pronunciation.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Alone

• Leave (someone) alone: To not bother or disturb someone.

• Let well enough alone: To avoid interfering with something that is already satisfactory.

• Stand alone: To be unique or without equal; to be self-sufficient.

• Leave me alone! A direct request to be undisturbed.

• By oneself alone: Emphasizing complete solitude.

• Not by bread alone: Implies that spiritual or intellectual nourishment is as important as physical sustenance. (From the biblical phrase)

• He laughs best who laughs last, alone: A twist on the idiom, suggesting a solitary triumph.

• All alone in the world: Emphasizing a profound sense of isolation.

• The only one left alone: Indicating singularity after others have departed.

• To go it alone: To proceed without assistance or companionship.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of alone from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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