only

  • adverb 1 and no one or nothing more besides. 2 no longer ago than. 3 not until. 4 with the negative or unfortunate result that.

  • adjective 1 alone of its or their kind; single or solitary. 2 alone deserving consideration.

  • conjunction informal except that.

  — PHRASES only just 1 by a very small margin. 2 very recently. only too &em;&em; to an extreme or regrettable extent.

  — ORIGIN Old English, related to ONE.

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