onliest

[ ohn-lee-ist ]

adjective

, Nonstandard.

1. only: used as an intensive.

Word History and Origins

Origin of onliest¹

First recorded in 1575–85; only + -est ¹

Example Sentences

“I cain’t say it’s the onliest happy time for me, ma’am. But they shore ain’t never been any to equal it!”

From Literature

“Hit de onliest one I could find,” Luster said.

From Literature

“Den he’s de onliest man here I’d try to fool,” he says.

From Literature

Now the “onliest boxer in history that people asked questions like a senator” developed coherent answers.

From New York Times

“Your Maman has enough problem, enough sor-row. And you her onliest child. Is not right to make her worry so. You big now, Jeremie, for true, but you not have the judgment for the thing you get involved in. You not got experience, you know.”

From Literature

Related Words

• completely
• entirely
• exclusively
• individually
• merely
• purely
• simply
• single-handedly
• totally
• wholly