the _only_ silent movement

[suprunp]

[About a clock]
Simple, beautifully made and the only silent analogue movement out there.

Does 'only' mean here:

that is unequaled (as in quality, rank) : unquestionably the best or the most outstanding
Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged

Thanks.

[JohnParis]

No, I would not take only to mean what you have proposed.

To me, it means that it is the only make of clock that offers a silent analog movement.

John

[emsr2d2]

[About a clock]
Simple, beautifully made and the only silent analogue movement out there.

Does 'only' mean here:



Thanks.

If it's the "only" one, then there is no other. On that basis, it can't be the best as that requires something to compare it to.

[suprunp]

Thank you, JohnParis and emsr2d2.

The 'subtle' meaning is somehow evades me though. I mean, I can't quite understand why it can't mean this:

single in superiority or distinction; unique; the best: the one and only Muhammad Ali.
Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Muhammad Ali was the best, and there were certainly many boxers to compare him with; the situation being similar to our one with the clock in question that is 'the best [only] silent movement in existence [out there]' while there are apparently many others out there.

Thanks.

[SoothingDave]

It is saying Ali was singular. In a class by himself. Not that he was the best boxer, but that he was the only (one, unique) boxer to attain that level.

This watch advertisement is not saying that the movement is in a class by itself, or that it of all the silent movements its is a level above the others.

It quite clearly is claiming to be the only silent movement. Period.

[suprunp]

It quite clearly is claiming to be the only silent movement. Period.

It may be the 'period' for a native speaker, but for me it is still an open issue.

2. used to say that sb/sth is the best and you would not choose any other
• She's the only person for the job.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 8th Edition

"It's the only [best] silent movement out there, you would not choose any other. There are clocks claimed to be silent, but you will soon find out that their 'silent movement' is like a deafening roar of Boeing 747 compared to our clocks."

I can't see why this scenario is impossible.

Thanks.

[5jj]

"It's the only [best] silent movement out there, you would not choose any other. There are clocks claimed to be silent, but you will soon find out that their 'silent movement' is like a deafening roar of Boeing 747 compared to our clocks."

I can't see why this scenario is impossible.

The scenario is not impossible; your bracketed [best] as a gloss of 'only' is unlikely. The words appear to be claiming that other so-called silent clocks are not silent. The writer's clock is the only silent clock - there is no other truly silent clock.