sole

Definitions

From Latin sōlus (alone, single). As an adjective, sole keeps that meaning directly: the sole owner is the one and only owner. The noun senses (bottom of a foot, and the fish) are a homograph — they come from a different Latin word, solea, and are unrelated to sōlus.

Why It Means This

One spelling, two origins. The adjective sole ('only') descends from sōlus and is the one tied to this root. The noun sole — the bottom of a shoe, or the flatfish — comes from Latin solea ('sandal, flat surface') and is a coincidental look-alike. So 'the sole survivor wore worn-out soles' uses two unrelated words that happen to be spelled the same.

Common Collocations

• 1.sole responsibility全权责任
• 2.sole purpose唯一目的
• 3.sole survivor唯一幸存者
• 4.sole proprietor独资经营者
• 5.sole owner唯一所有者

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She was the sole survivor of the plane crash.

• 2.

  Our sole purpose here is to keep you safe.

• 3.

  The soles of his shoes were caked with mud.

Easily Confused

sole vs single — sole stresses exclusivity (no one else shares it): sole owner, sole responsibility. single just stresses 'one' as a number: a single mistake, a single room. You can have a single owner among several; a sole owner means absolutely no one else.