- solo
- 1695, "piece of music for one voice or instrument," from It. solo, lit. "alone," from L. solus "alone" (see sole (adj.)). The adj. is recorded from 1712; non-musical sense of "alone, unassisted" is attested from 1909. The verb is first attested 1886. Soloist is from 1864. Latin solus was used in stage directions (1599) and in phrases solus cum sola "alone with an unchaperoned woman" and solus cum solo "all on one's own," both lit. "alone with alone."