sole

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin solea sandal, a flatfish Date: 13th century any of various flatfishes (family Soleidae) having a small mouth, small or rudimentary fins, and small eyes placed close together and including important food fishes (as the European Dover sole); also any of various mostly market flatfishes (as lemon sole) of other families (as Pleuronectidae) II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French sole, soele, from Latin solea sandal; akin to Latin solum base, ground, soil Date: 14th century 1. a. the undersurface of a foot b. the part of an item of footwear on which the sole rests and upon which the wearer treads 2. the usually flat or flattened bottom or lower part of something or the base on which something rests • soled adjective III. transitive verb (soled; soling) Date: circa 1570 1. to furnish with a sole <

sole a shoe

> 2. to place the sole of (a golf club) on the ground IV. adjective Etymology: Middle English, alone, from Anglo-French sul, soul, seul, from Latin solus Date: 14th century 1. not married — used chiefly of women 2. archaic having no companion ; solitary 3. a. having no sharer b. being the only one <

she was her mother's sole support

> 4. functioning independently and without assistance or interference <

let conscience be the sole judge

> 5. belonging exclusively or otherwise limited to one usually specified individual, unit, or group • soleness noun