Hypertext Webster Gateway: "only"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Only \On"ly\, adv. [See {Only}, a.]
1. In one manner or degree; for one purpose alone; simply;
merely; barely.
And to be loved himself, needs only to be known.
--Dryden.
2. So and no otherwise; no other than; exclusively; solely;
wholly. ``She being only wicked.'' --Beau. & Fl.
Every imagination . . . of his heart was only evil.
--Gen. vi. 5.
3. Singly; without more; as, only-begotten.
4. Above all others; particularly. [Obs.]
His most only elected mistress. --Marston.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
2. Alone in its class; by itself; not associated with others
of the same class or kind; as, an only child.
3. Hence, figuratively: Alone, by reason of superiority;
pre["e]minent; chief. ``Motley's the only wear.'' --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Only \On"ly\, conj.
Save or except (that); -- an adversative used elliptically
with or without that, and properly introducing a single fact
or consideration.
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
only
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)}]
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}, {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}]
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 if}, {only when}]
7: as recently as; "I spoke to him only an hour ago"
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