Lonely
/ˈloʊn.li/noun
Feeling sad because one has no friends or company.
Did you know?The word 'lonely' is rooted in the concept of being 'alone' but has evolved to carry a deep sense of sorrow and isolation, almost like a curse of solitude.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leu-
“to loosen, divide, or separate.”
Old English
Old English
ālāne
“alone, solitary.”
Middle English
Middle English
lonelich
“solitary, alone; characterized by loneliness.”
14th Century
Middle English
lonely
“deserted, uninhabited; feeling or expressing sadness due to solitude.”
Modern English
English
lonely
“experiencing feelings of isolation or sadness from being alone.”