Alone
/əˈloʊn/noun
Having no one else present; by oneself.
Did you know?In Middle English, 'alone' was often linked to a sense of sacredness, implying that true solitude could lead to spiritual enlightenment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁el-
“to nourish, grow, or increase, implying a sense of wholeness.”
Old English
Old English
ālone
“all one, meaning entirely or wholly one.”
Middle English
Middle English
alon
“to be by oneself, emphasizing a state of solitude.”
Modern English
English
alone
“to exist without the presence of others, retaining the original connotation of wholeness.”