Alonely

/əˈloʊn.li/ adjective

Definition

Somewhat alone or showing signs of loneliness; a poetic or archaic form emphasizing a solitary state.

Etymology

From 'alone' (from Old English 'al ane,' meaning 'all one') plus the adjectival suffix '-ly.' This form is archaic, as modern English uses 'alone' or 'lonely' instead, making 'alonely' a relic of earlier linguistic patterns.

Kelly Says

You'll almost never hear 'alonely' today because English speakers standardized on 'lonely' instead, but this ghostly word shows how English was still experimenting with suffixes in earlier centuries—it's like a linguistic fossil!

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