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For example, I have heard people say 'remember when we saw that one guy?', or 'my one exam just got postponed'. Is it a form of hedging?

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    In both your examples, the meaning I can attribute is that there was only one guy there, and I have only one exam, and the speaker is emphasising the uniqueness.
    – Colin Fine
    Commented Nov 16, 2020 at 14:54
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    Note that "proceding" is not a word. You can have "preceding" or "proceeding". I assume you mean the former. I've edited the title.
    – chasly - supports Monica
    Commented Nov 16, 2020 at 15:10

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'remember when we saw that one guy?'

I interpret this as meaning "unique". For example, suppose we attended an entertainment event and there were ten players and one of them was wearing a bear's head. Later we might say, "Remember when we saw that one guy - the one with the bear's head?"

'my one exam just got postponed'

I interpret this as meaning "one-and-only". I had only one exam and it was postponed.

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It is a determinar used to add emphasis:

One can be used instead of 'a' to emphasize the following noun. [emphasis]

There is one thing I would like to know–What is it about Tim that you find so irresistible? One person I hate is Russ.

(Collins Dictionary)

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    But that meaning doesn't fit either of the OP's examples.
    – Colin Fine
    Commented Nov 16, 2020 at 14:54
  • @ColinFine - it is an extension of that usage.
    – user 66974
    Commented Nov 16, 2020 at 17:23
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    Maybe. But unlike your example, it doesn't make sense in the OP's examples unless it has the sense of uniqueness. Your example does not have that sense at all.
    – Colin Fine
    Commented Nov 16, 2020 at 17:51

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