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REFERENCE

sole

adj. · n. · v.
US //ˈsoʊɫ// UK //sˈəʊl// sole
  1. 1 only (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    being the only one of something.

    being the only one; exclusive of all others.

    Example

    She was the sole survivor of the plane crash.

    Example

    The company was granted the sole right to distribute the vaccine within the northern territories for the next five years.
  2. 2 independent power (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    having the power to make decisions alone, without needing to ask others.

    possessing independent or unfettered authority; often used in legal or formal contexts regarding responsibility.

    Example

    He has sole responsibility for the children's education.

    Example

    The executor has sole discretion over the distribution of the remaining assets, provided the primary debts are settled first.
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  1. 3 bottom of foot or shoe (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Anatomy

    the bottom part of your foot or the bottom of a shoe.

    the plantar surface of the foot or the underpart of a shoe or boot.

    Example

    The soles of his feet were sore after walking all day.

    Example

    The cobbler recommended a thicker rubber sole to provide better traction on the icy city pavements during the winter months.
  2. 4 type of fish (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a flat sea fish that people often eat.

    any of various flatfishes of the family Soleidae, valued as food.

    Example

    We had grilled sole with lemon and herbs for dinner.

    Example

    The chef prepared a delicate lemon sole, pan-seared and served with a light butter sauce to highlight the fish's natural sweetness.
    • flatfish
  3. 5 to repair a shoe (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    to put a new bottom on a shoe.

    to furnish a shoe or boot with a new sole. Transitive verb requiring a direct object.

    Example

    I need to have these boots soled before the rainy season starts.

    Example

    The artisan carefully soled the bespoke leather oxfords using a traditional Goodyear welt technique for maximum durability.
Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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).

Etymology 3

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”).

Etymology 4

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.

Etymology 5

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.

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