One (wŭn), a. [OE. one, on, an, AS. ān; akin to D. een, OS. ēn, OFries. ēn, ān, G. ein, Dan. een, Sw. en, Icel. einn, Goth. ains, W. un, Ir. & Gael. aon, L. unus, earlier oinos, oenos, Gr. οἴνη the ace on dice; cf. Skr. ēka. The same word as the indefinite article a, an. √ 299. Cf. 2d A, 1st An, Alone, Anon, Any, None, Nonce, Only, Onion, Unit.] 1. Being a single unit, or entire being or thing, and no more; not multifold; single; individual.
The dream of Pharaoh is one. Gen. xli. 25.
O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England. Shak.
2. Denoting a person or thing conceived or spoken of indefinitely; a certain. “I am the sister of one Claudio” [Shak.], that is, of a certain man named Claudio.
3. Pointing out a contrast, or denoting a particular thing or person different from some other specified; — used as a correlative adjective, with or without the.
From the one side of heaven unto the other. Deut. iv. 32.
4. Closely bound together; undivided; united; constituting a whole.
The church is therefore one, though the members may be many. Bp. Pearson
5. Single in kind; the same; a common.
One plague was on you all, and on your lords. 1 Sam. vi. 4.
6. Single; unmarried.
Men may counsel a woman to be one. Chaucer.
☞ One is often used in forming compound words, the meaning of which is obvious; as, one-armed, one-celled, one-eyed, one-handed, one-hearted, one-horned, one-idead, one-leaved, one-masted, one-ribbed, one-story, one-syllable, one-stringed, one-winged, etc.
All one, of the same or equal nature, or consequence; as, he says that it is all one what course you take. Shak. — One day. (a) On a certain day, not definitely specified, referring to time past.
One day when Phoebe fair,
With all her band, was following the chase. Spenser.
(b) Referring to future time: At some uncertain day or period; some day.
Well, I will marry one day. Shak.