Middle English Dictionary Entry
al-ōn(e adv. & adj.
Entry Info
Forms | al-ōn(e adv. & adj. Also allon(e, al(l)an(e, allaine, allein. |
Etymology | From phrase al ōne. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. one adv.
1a.
Unaccompanied, alone; all alone, solitary; -- (a) in the predicate; (b) with a noun or pron.; (c) mi-self ~, ourself ~, all by myself, ourselves; etc; bi him(-self) ~, all by himself; etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)137 : All ane..Ȝede he till Godess allterr.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)63/30 : Þin lichame lið under ierðe..all-ane.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)123/18 : Ȝif he ware all hone, ðanne most he [confess] to godd ane.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)7/74 : Þer heo liuede alone.
- c1300 SLeg.11000 Virg.(LdMisc 108)156 : At Matines þis holie bodi a-ros hire up allone.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)24 : A priue stude..þare he miȝte beo al one.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)371 : Many anoþer him iseih..But noht alone in his godhede, Ac i-meind wid þe manhede.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)142 : He ne is neuremo lesse allone bote huanne he is one..Vor he ys þanne..mid him-zelue and mid god.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1365 : Solitarie he was and euere allone.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.351 : In Forest al one he was.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1523 : He wente forth his weie Alone.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4003 : Twey men..Þat leuyd to-gedyr..A-lone yn an ermytage.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)933 : I se no bygyng nawhere aboute. I trowe, alone ȝe lenge and loute To loke on þe glory of þys gracous [!] gote.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2866 : He was shet vp in a toure, Al alone.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deut.22.27 : Sche was aloone in the feeld.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)419 : He sal haue..delite to be al ane.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)90/850 : To his chapell he went allone.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)21/30 : Sho sal ete al-ane [L sola].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.549 : Ryht Al Alone To that knyht wolde I gone.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1251 : Allayn at mete..sal sche sit.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)418 : He..beshette him therin all aloon.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)1015 : He..drow hym euer alove [read: alone].
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)297 : Sche was almoost allone, Ther was wyth hur maydyns but oon.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)206 : Iosepes lheuedy þo hy uand alone him; hi wolde do him zeneȝi mid hire, ac he him uledde.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2725 : Ne to be..with twenty knyghtes take, O persone allone with outen mo.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1326 : The hye god whan he..saugh hym [Adam] allone.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2154 : & leuez þe knyȝt þere al one.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)2 Kings 18.24 : The weyter..sawȝ a man aloone rennynge.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)13956 : Be half a myle nygh hem was non but the xlij there al alon.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)987 : To the bote they yede..They two allone.
c
- a1300 I syke (Dgb 2)19 : Mari hir-selfe al-hon, hir songe was way-le-[way].
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2014 : Sche chold sone be bi-schet here-selue al-one In a..tour.
- c1390 Bi west (Vrn)21 : Ful stille I stod my-self al-on.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)108 : Handyl hem [þy synnes] at onys euerychone, Noght one by hym self alone.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1152 : And rode hym forth..This Polymyte ..Hym-silf allone on a Ryal Stede.
- c1440(a1350) Isumb.(Thrn)87 : Als he wente by hym allone.
- a1450(?c1343) Rolle EDormio (Cmb Dd.5.64)65/158 : Þan wil þe liste, stele by þe alane, to thynk on Criste.
- a1450(?c1343) Rolle EDormio (Cmb Dd.5.64)66/163 : When þou ert by þe alane [etc.].
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1261 : Allone by hir-self sal sche do What wark so sche es put vnto.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)112/5 : In þis place wher we are pight, oure self allone.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)289 : Þe bischop, him all ane, To his prayers was he gane.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)113/24 : He..rode so forthe hymself alone.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)128/28 : The fyve kynges commynge on horsebak by hem-self alone.
1b.
(a) Without companions, kindred, or competitors; solitary, lonely, deserted; alone; ~ of kin (frend), without kin (friends); him ~, by himself; hirself ~, to herself; ~ as he was born, utterly alone; (b) leten alone, leave (sb.) alone, i.e. undisturbed, without interference; (c) lonely or deserted (place); simple or unadulterated (falsehoods).
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17934 : Nu þu ært al ane of aðele þine cunne [Otho: al one of alle þine kunne].
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1528 : Alone þei tweyne þei went in-to william.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 8.16 : For I am not aloone.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1633 : On his hors, allone as he was born, He carieth al this harneys hym biforn.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3204 : A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye Allone, withouten any compaignye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3543 : Hym had leuere..That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2294 : It is nat good to be a man allone. Make we to hym an help semblable to hym self.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2556 : Ye been but allone, for certes ye ne han no child but a doghter..ne noon oother ny kynrede.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.885 : And happed that, allone as he was born, He say a mayde walkynge hym biforn.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1561 : To bryngen it aboute To han his wyf allone.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9406 : He wroght a felau of his ban Till adam, þat was first allan.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)784 : As Loot in a loge-dor lened hym alone.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.2.18 : It is not good, man to be alone.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.97 : Bothe a widewe was she and allone Of any frend to whom she dorste hir mone.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.298 : I shal..On lyve in torment..this disaventure, Allone as I was born..compleyne.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2286 : When alle foulke weren þen ago & he hurre-self alle-on was lafte [etc.].
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)87 : Wost thou..whether thou be aloone, or double thou be?..Ladi..I am al aloone.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)321 : Wo be to him þat is all one, scil. lyvyng in synnys, for he hath noon helpe.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.162 : Lat me allone in chesyng of my wyf.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7633 : Þat i him sla, it es noght god..i sal him lat al-an.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)88 : I schal tee in-to Tarce..& lyȝtly..he letes me alone.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)65/19 : Deme þi-self as þee list..& lat oþer men allone.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4a : Lat me alone to do that my right is.
c
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1189 : This place desolat..was & stood aloon, Whos dwellers thens for feer dede flen euerychon.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)2125 : Scrippes bret-ful of lesinges, Entremedled with tydynges, And eke allone be hemselve.
2.
(a) Unaided, single-handed, alone; solely through one's efforts or fault; bi himself ~; without aid, hindrance, or competition; ~ king, sole ruler ; (b) of a word: used absolutely, without qualifying adjective or phrase.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)833 : I schal al one..Wiþ mi swerd..Bringe hem þre to deþe.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6400 : Knout was þo al one king..of engelonde, Of norþwei, of denemarch.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))1 Esd.4.3 : Wee vsself alone shul bilden vp to the Lord.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.241 : Afterward he regned a loon [L solus].
- a1425(c1300) Assump.Virg.(1) (Add 10036)543 : Ȝif a man hadde al one wrouȝt Alle þe synnes þat myȝt be þouȝt.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.1.10 : I may not aloone susteyne ȝow.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.38 : Cunedag was þo al one kyng.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)784 : Wyþ Eneas al-one to fyght.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)108 : Now began the eldest..to take upon him to regne al alone.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)321/518 : Whi bot rose he bi hym self alone?
b
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.113va : Qwan þou redest 'papauer' alone, it is qwit pope.
3.
Unique; as the only one; ~ sone, only son; god ~, the one and only God; setten ~, make unique, set apart.
Associated quotations
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)82.17 : Þou alon [L solus] art heȝest in al erþe.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2030 : Ro[land]..þonked god al-on þat he haþ founde him hol.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2614 : Riȝt as þe rose is fairest of echon, Riȝt so Nature sette ȝow allon..Above alle other for to haue a pris.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.32.39 : Y am alone, and there is noon other God saue me.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.2.15 : Thilke God..seeth alle thingis alone [L solus].
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)169 : A dede body..that was the allone sone of wydewe.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)289 : She was allone, kynd made hir neuer peyr.
- c1475 Brm.Abraham (Brm)400 : For ȝe drede me as God a-lon.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)88/27 : Alle þinges er maad of oon all-oon substance of oon all-oon ordinance.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)39/26 : Above man is but oon god alone.
4.
(a) Exclusive of all others or all else; exclusively, solely; only, alone; (b) merely; only, alone; nough ~..but (also).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)10 : His herte hire wes alon.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)612 : Þo gunne þe hundes gone Abute horn al one.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)190 : Me makeþ his swete body [the Host] of þe whete-corn al-on.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.353 : Þey [Irish]..haueþ breche and hosen al oon of wolle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.704 : Al was slain bot sche al one.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Martin AM (Cmb Gg.5.31)70 : What thyng sall passe qwyte?..Meknes allane.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.22.20 : He that offrith to goddis, out takun to the Lord aloone [WB(1): oonly].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Tob.8.9 : Y take my sistir not for cause of letcherie, but for loue aloone of eeris.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.6.2-3 : On allone [L unus] is fadir of thynges, On allone [L unus] mynystreth alle thynges.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.2 Esd.(Cld E.2)9.6 : It is not the word of Esdras aloone, but also of othere men.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)68/8 : Þou all ane, lorde..sall be comforthed þareby.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)196 : Al þe days of oure lifyng Er lent vs allane for þis thyng.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)896 : I com not to do myn entent, Bot his allaine þat hase me sent.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2257 : Þen aw hir forto luke alleyn Vnto þat charch þat scho hase tayn.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10810 : There wond in no wegh, but wemen allone Withouten mon.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)21 : Sir Davy Dunbarre, he allone ascried and pursued hem.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)282/306 : Kyng we haue non, but oure emperour Alon.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)110 : Þo bischopis a lon lowen to ȝeftis, Alon he vsiþ ministry, Alon he chalangiþ to him all þingis.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)38/489 : Pray we..To hym that is alone worthiest of degre.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)129 : Thorow feyrenes and strenkyþ allone They honowred hym euerychone.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.38 : An Isle..his destyned the alaan And thy Troyanes to..enhabite.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11344 : Nohht ne maȝȝ þe mann Bi bræd all ane libbenn.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)70 : [Catel] nis ilend him bot alone Fort to libbe is lif iwisse.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)465 : Alone to hope widoute god-dede Is ydel hope.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)102 : God..þet..yefþ more bleþeliche..to uelen þanne to onen allone.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Tob.8.19 : Don thou hast mercy to thi two alone [WB(2): to tweyne aloone].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.137 : He [bishop of Rochester] haþ vnder hym Kent allone [Higd.(2): hathe gouernayle oonly in Kente; L soli].
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.103 : Noht allan til thaim [prelates] au we To haf..charite, Bot bath tille brother and felau.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)451 : To godd self wald he be pere, Noght pere allan bot mikul mare.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.138 : Þei mad..homage..Not to þe fader alle on bot tille his heir.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)80/11 : Crist loued neuer pouert for hit-silf aloon.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)7b/b : Þo þingez which bene knowen by felyngez or wittez alone [*Ch.(2): onlich; L solum].
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)10 : For the Newe Testament al oon or for the Newe Testament and the Oold to gidere.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)290 : Syngne of religion haue þai non..bot tonsure allon.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)206/5 : Bi an hundrid wordis seid recchelesly and aloone noisingli.