sole´ness

sole¹ «sohl», adjective.

1. a) one and only; single: »

He was the sole heir to the fortune when his aunt died. Is that your sole objection?

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under single. (Cf. ↑single) b) of matchless quality; unique; singular: »

The evil time's sole patriot (Emerson).

2. only: »

We three were the sole survivors from the wreck.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under single. (Cf. ↑single)

3. of or for only one person or group and not others; exclusive: »

the sole right of use.

4. without help; alone: »

a sole undertaking.

5. Law. unmarried: »

a feme sole.

╂[< Old French soul < Latin sōlus alone]

–sole´ness, noun.

sole² «sohl», noun, verb, soled, sol|ing.

–n.

1. the bottom or undersurface of the foot.

2. a) the bottom of a shoe, slipper, or boot. b) a piece of leather or rubber cut in the same shape.

3. the undersurface; underpart; bottom: »

the sole of an iron. The sole of a golf club is the part of the head that comes closest to the ground.

–v.t.

1. to put a sole on: »

I must have my shoes soled.

2. Golf. to place the sole of (a club) on the ground behind the ball.

╂[< Old French sole, ultimately < Latin solea sandal, shoe < solum bottom, ground]

sole³ «sohl», noun, plural soles or (collectively) sole.

1. a kind of flatfish much used for food. Soles have small mouths and small, close-set eyes. They comprise a family of fishes: »

baked filet of sole with almonds.

2. any one of certain related fishes, such as some of the flounders.

╂[< Old French sole < Vulgar Latin sola < Latin solea; see etym. under sole² (Cf. ↑sole)]