| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Origin: | all one 'wholly one' |
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a‧lone S2 W1
[not before noun]
[not before noun]1 if you are alone in a place, there is no one with you [= by yourself]:
2 without any friends or people you know :
4 without any help from other people :
He was left to raise their two children alone.
He was left to raise their two children alone.5 without including anything else :
The case will cost thousands of pounds in legal fees alone.
The case will cost thousands of pounds in legal fees alone.6 used to emphasize that there is only one person who knows, can do something etc :
Julie alone knew the truth.
you/he etc alone
Julie alone knew the truth.7 to start working or living on your own, especially after working or living with other people :
After years of working for a big company I decided to go it alone.
go it alone
After years of working for a big company I decided to go it alone.8 to stop annoying or interrupting someone :
'Leave me alone!' she screamed.
leave somebody alone
, let somebody alone old-fashioned
'Leave me alone!' she screamed.9 to stop touching an object or changing something :
Leave those cakes alone. They're for the guests.
leave something alone
also let something alone old-fashioned
Leave those cakes alone. They're for the guests. leave well (enough) alone (=not change something that is satisfactory)
In economic matters, they should leave well alone.
In economic matters, they should leave well alone.10 used to emphasize that something belongs to someone :
The responsibility is yours and yours alone.
be yours/hers/his etc alone
The responsibility is yours and yours alone.11 to not be the only person to do something :
You're not alone in feeling upset, believe me.
not be alone in (doing) something
You're not alone in feeling upset, believe me.12
stand alone
a) to be strong and independent :
the courage to stand alone
the courage to stand aloneb) to be at a distance from other objects or buildings :
The house stood alone at the end of the road.
The house stood alone at the end of the road.