solo
UK[ˈsəʊləʊ]US[ˈsoʊloʊ]
n
a piece of music, song, or dance performed by a single person
n
any activity performed by a single person without assistance or in isolation
adj
performed or done by a single person alone
adv
alone; without assistance
Etymology
the word 'solo' entered english in the late 17th century, directly borrowed from the italian language, where it carries the same meaning of 'alone'. italian inherited it from the latin adjective 'solus', which signifies 'alone, single, only, lonely'. the latin term is of uncertain deeper origin, though it is possibly related to the proto-indo-european root sew(h)-, meaning 'self', which also gave rise to english words like 'self' and 'sole'. the musical sense of a performance by a single voice or instrument became prominent in english during the 18th century, perfectly capturing the core concept of singularity and independence inherent in its latin ancestor.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from italian, where it functions as both an adjective and a noun. it is derived from the latin adjective 'solus', meaning 'alone'.
Examples
the violinist performed a breathtaking solo in the final movement.
after his partner retired, he decided to run the business as a solo venture.
she flew solo across the atlantic, setting a new record.