one-volume

The word is a modern English compound adjective formed from two distinct elements. 'One' originates from the Old English 'ān', a numeral of Germanic descent, which has consistently denoted singularity. 'Volume' entered English from Old French 'volume', itself from Latin 'volumen' meaning 'a roll (of papyrus or parchment)', derived from 'volvere' (to roll). The compound 'one-volume' logically combines these elements to describe a work whose entire content is contained within a single rolled-up object—a book—contrasting with multi-volume sets. This formation follows a transparent and common pattern in English for creating descriptive terms.

Structure: one + volume one (Old English, numeral meaning 'single') + volume (Latin via Old French, meaning 'a roll of parchment; a book')