let alone

Use Let alone in a sentence

adjective (used predicatively)

separate, apart, or isolated from others: I want to be alone.

to the exclusion of all others or all else: One cannot live by bread alone.

unique; unequaled; unexcelled: He is alone among his peers in devotion to duty.

adverb

solitarily; solely: She prefers to live alone.

only; exclusively.

without aid or help: The baby let go of the side of the crib and stood alone.

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Let alone is always a great word to know.

So is quincunx. Does it mean:

an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

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Idioms

leave alone,

to allow (someone) to be by himself or herself: Leave him alone—he wants to rest.

to refrain from annoying or interfering with: The youngsters wouldn't leave the dog alone, and he finally turned on them.

let alone,

to refrain from annoying or interfering with.

not to mention: He was too tired to walk, let alone run.

let well enough alone, to be satisfied with the existing situation; refrain from attempting to change conditions: Marriages are often destroyed by relatives who will not let well enough alone.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English al one all (wholly) one

Related forms

a·lone·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. single, solitary; unaccompanied, unattended. Alone, lone, lonely, lonesome all imply being without companionship or association. Alone is colorless unless reinforced by all; it then suggests solitariness or desolation: alone in the house; all alone on an island. Lone is somewhat poetic or is intended humorously: a lone sentinel. Lonely implies a sad or disquieting feeling of isolation. Lonesome connotes emotion, a longing for companionship.

Antonyms
1. accompanied.

Usage note
7, 8. See leave¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To let alone

Collins

World English Dictionary

alone (əˈləʊn)

—*adj, —adv*
1.	apart from another or others; solitary
2.	without anyone or anything else: one man alone could lift it
3.	without equal; unique: he stands alone in the field of microbiology
4.	to the exclusion of others; only: she alone believed him
5.	leave alone, leave be, let alone, let be to refrain from annoying or interfering with
6.	leave well alone, leave well enough alone, let well alone, let well enough alone to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory
7.	let alone much less; not to mention: he can't afford beer, let alone whisky

[Old English al one, literally: all (entirely) one]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

alone

c.1300 contraction of O.E. all ana "all by oneself," from all "all, wholly" + an "one" (see one). Similar compounds found in Ger. (allein) and Du. (alleen).

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

let alone

See leave someone alone.
Not to mention, as in We have no room for another house guest, let alone an entire family. [c. 1800]

Example sentences

We don't know what questions to ask, let alone how to answer them.

Few of the fans seemed to notice, let alone oppose, the conflation of party and

state.

Those dishes don't get credit on other people's menus, let alone spin royalties.

He often couldn't leave his apartment, let alone play an instrument.

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Idioms & Phrases

leave someone alone

Matching Quote

"Expecting me to grovel,
she carefully covers both feet
with the hem of her skirt.
She pretends to hide
a coming smile
and won't look straight at me.
When I talk to her,
she chats with her friend
in cross tones.
Even this slim girl's rising anger
delights me,
let alone her deep love."

-Amaru