lonely or lonesome

User since 2006
Posts: 2715

3 Oct. 2008

Lone, lonely, lonesome.
Three synonyms in many cases. With an exception for one case.
1. According to what I read in dictionaries, Samson, <lone> and <lonely> may mean "objectively having no company", "being without company", what <lonesome> doesn't. <Lonesome> always insists one the fact of being sad, having bad feelings resulting from the lack of companionship, a meaning that <lone> and <lonely> also meet.
2. <lonely> and <lonesome> share as further meanings: having feelings from being solitary; causing a feeling of loneliness(e.g. the Delavigne offices were so empty that they seemed lonesome/lonely)

I wonder whether the adjectival suffix -some isn't a bit different from the adjectival suffix -ly.

Suffix -ly just means in a specified MANNER, specification made by the main root the suffix gets added to.
[examples: abashedly, permanently, accurately, exactly, precisely, partly, monthly, lonely,...]

Suffix -some only means characterized by a specified QUALITY, STATE, CONDITION, ACTION.
[ex.: awesome, bothersome, troublesome, worrisome, gruesome, lonesome...]

It seems to me that the -ly suffix commands more objective cases whereas the -some suffix commands more subjective ones. Am I right or wrong? I dunno.
Does this meet your ideas, Samson. Tell me your views.

Lone, lonely, lonesome. 
 Three synonyms in many cases. With an exception for one case. 
 1. According to what I read in dictionaries, Samson, <lone> and <lonely> may mean "objectively having no company", "being without company", what <lonesome> doesn't. <Lonesome> always insists one the fact of being sad, having bad feelings resulting from the lack of companionship, a meaning that <lone> and <lonely> also meet. 
 2. <lonely> and <lonesome> share as further meanings: having feelings from being solitary; causing a feeling of loneliness(e.g. the Delavigne offices were so empty that they seemed lonesome/lonely)  
 
 
 I wonder whether the adjectival suffix -some isn't a bit different from the adjectival suffix -ly.  
 
 
 Suffix -ly just means in a specified MANNER, specification made by the main root the suffix gets added to. 
 [examples: abashedly, permanently, accurately, exactly, precisely, partly, monthly, lonely,...]  
 
 
 Suffix -some only means characterized by a specified QUALITY, STATE, CONDITION, ACTION. 
 [ex.: awesome, bothersome, troublesome, worrisome, gruesome, lonesome...]  
 
 
 It seems to me that the -ly suffix commands more objective cases whereas the -some suffix commands more subjective ones. Am I right or wrong? I dunno. 
 Does this meet your ideas, Samson. Tell me your views.

Sunny19

User since 2008
Posts: 121

3 Oct. 2008

Thank You Mr. Gee! Your answer is more detailed than I expected.
I asked for your opinion about this case because I was irritated by Gymglish's answer in my daily lesson: "a lonely person feels isolated or alone. They need companions or friends."
I thought to be alone or lonely is just a statement of isolation, whereas to be lonesome means a feeling.
Concerning your thoughts about the suffix-meaning it's to high for me at the moment.
Thank you very much.

Samson

AhQ ['a: kiu]

User since 2006
Posts: 2715

3 Oct. 2008

Hi, Samson, take my comments for what they are, just personal ideas of a learner.
Don't forget that lonely may also mean feeling isolated and being sad therefore.
Just lonesome doesn't fit to simply describe "being without company." (according to the Webster's)
Keep it up!

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