sole
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.being the only one of something.
adj.being the only one; exclusive of all others.
Simple“She was the sole survivor of the plane crash.”
In context“The company was granted the sole right to distribute the vaccine within the northern territories for the next five years.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
adj.having the power to make decisions alone, without needing to ask others.
adj.possessing independent or unfettered authority; often used in legal or formal contexts regarding responsibility.
Simple“He has sole responsibility for the children's education.”
In context“The executor has sole discretion over the distribution of the remaining assets, provided the primary debts are settled first.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the bottom part of your foot or the bottom of a shoe.
n.the plantar surface of the foot or the underpart of a shoe or boot.
Simple“The soles of his feet were sore after walking all day.”
In context“The cobbler recommended a thicker rubber sole to provide better traction on the icy city pavements during the winter months.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a flat sea fish that people often eat.
n.any of various flatfishes of the family Soleidae, valued as food.
Simple“We had grilled sole with lemon and herbs for dinner.”
In context“The chef prepared a delicate lemon sole, pan-seared and served with a light butter sauce to highlight the fish's natural sweetness.”
Synonymsflatfish - 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to put a new bottom on a shoe.
v.to furnish a shoe or boot with a new sole. Transitive verb requiring a direct object.
Simple“I need to have these boots soled before the rainy season starts.”
In context“The artisan carefully soled the bespoke leather oxfords using a traditional Goodyear welt technique for maximum durability.”
“Gartshore was unanimously found guilty of culpably and recklessly causing Dahlia-Rose to be subjected to heat from the appliance while the child was in her sole care.”
“After Son left London for Los Angeles , Hwang Hee-chan was the sole participant, but the forward went down with Wolves.”
From Middle English sole, soule, from Old French sol, soul (“alone”), from Latin sōlus (“alone, single, solitary, lonely”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European swé (reflexive pronoun). Perhaps related to Old Latin sollus (“whole, complete”), from Proto-Indo-European solh₂- (“safe, healthy”). More at save.
From Middle English sole, soole, from Old English sole, solu. Reinforced by Anglo-Norman sole, Old French sole, from Vulgar Latin sola (“bottom of the shoe”, also “flatfish”), from Latin solea (“sandal, bottom of the shoe”), from Proto-Indo-European swol- (“sole”). Cognate with Dutch zool (“sole, tread”), German Sohle (“sole, insole, bottom, floor”), Danish sål (“sole”), Icelandic sóli (“sole, outsole”), Gothic 𐍃𐌿𐌻𐌾𐌰 (sulja, “sandal”). Related to Latin solum (“bottom, ground, soil”). More at soil. Compare typologically Russian по́чва (póčva) akin to подо́шва (podóšva).
From Middle English sole, soole, from Old English sāl (“a rope, cord, line, bond, rein, door-hinge, necklace, collar”), from Proto-Germanic sailą, sailaz (“rope, cable”), sailō (“noose, rein, bondage”), from Proto-Indo-European sey- (“to tie to, tie together”). Cognate with Scots sale, saile (“halter, collar”), Dutch zeel (“rope, cord, strap”), German Seil (“rope, cable, wire”), Icelandic seil (“a string, line”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian dell (“sinew, vein”).
From Middle English sol, from Old English sol (“mire, miry place”), from Proto-Germanic sulą (“mire, wallow, mud”), from Proto-Indo-European sūl- (“thick liquid”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian soal (“ditch”), Dutch sol (“water and mud filled pit”), German Suhle (“mire, wallow”), Norwegian saula, søyla (“mud puddle”). More at soil.
From earlier sowle (“to pull by the ear”). Origin unknown. Perhaps from sow (“female pig”) + -le, as in the phrase "take a sow by the wrong ear", or from Middle English sole (“rope”). See above.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.