Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
solitary - 6 dictionary results

sol⋅i⋅tar⋅y

[sol-i-ter-ee] adjective, noun, plural -tar⋅ies.
–adjective
1. alone; without companions; unattended: a solitary passer-by.
2. living alone; avoiding the society of others: a solitary existence.
3. by itself; alone: one solitary house.
4. characterized by the absence of companions: a solitary journey.
5. done without assistance or accompaniment; done in solitude: solitary chores.
6. being the only one: a solitary exception.
7. characterized by solitude, as a place; unfrequented, secluded, or lonely: a solitary cabin in the woods.
8. Zoology. living habitually alone or in pairs, as certain wasps. Compare social (def. 10).
–noun
9. a person who lives alone or in solitude, or avoids the society of others.
10. a person who lives in solitude from religious motives.
11. solitary confinement.

Origin:
1300–50; ME < L sōlitārius alone, by itself, solitary, equiv. to sōlit(ās) solitude (sōl(us) sole 1 + -itās -ity ) + -ārius -ary


sol⋅i⋅tar⋅i⋅ly, adverb
sol⋅i⋅tar⋅i⋅ness, noun


1. lone. 7. isolated, retired, sequestered, remote. 9, 10. hermit, recluse. 10. eremite.
sol·i·tar·y   (sŏl'ĭ-těr'ē)   
adj.  
  1. Existing, living, or going without others; alone: a solitary traveler. See Synonyms at alone.
  2. Happening, done, or made alone: a solitary evening; solitary pursuits such as reading and sewing.
  3. Remote from civilization; secluded: a solitary retreat.
  4. Having no companions; lonesome or lonely.
  5. Zoology Living alone or in pairs only: solitary wasps; solitary sparrows.
  6. Single and set apart from others: a solitary instance of cowardice.
n.   pl. sol·i·tar·ies
  1. A person who lives alone; a recluse.
  2. Solitary confinement.

[Middle English, from Old French solitaire, from Latin sōlitārius, from sōlitās, solitude, from sōlus, alone; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.]
sol'i·tar'i·ly (-târ'ə-lē) adv., sol'i·tar'i·ness n.

Solitary

Sol"i*ta*ry\, a. [L. solitarius, fr. solus alone: cf. F. solitaire. See Sole, a., and cf. Solitaire.]

1. Living or being by one's self; having no companion present; being without associates; single; alone; lonely.

Those rare and solitary, these in flocks. --Milton.

Hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary. --Shak.

2. Performed, passed, or endured alone; as, a solitary journey; a solitary life.

Satan . . . explores his solitary flight. --Milton.

3. ot much visited or frequented remote from society; retired; lonely; as, a solitary residence or place.

4. Not inhabited or occupied; without signs of inhabitants or occupation; desolate; deserted; silent; still; hence, gloomy; dismal; as, the solitary desert.

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people. --Lam. i. 1.

Let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein. --Job iii. 7.

5. Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of vengeance; a solitary example.

6. (Bot.) Not associated with others of the same kind.

Solitary ant (Zo["o]l.), any solitary hymenopterous insect of the family Mutillid[ae]. The female of these insects is destitute of wings and has a powerful sting. The male is winged and resembles a wasp. Called also spider ant.

Solitary bee (Zo["o]l.), any species of bee which does not form communities.

Solitary sandpiper (Zo["o]l.), an American tattler (Totanus solitarius).

Solitary snipe (Zo["o]l.), the great snipe. [Prov. Eng.]

Solitary thrush (Zo["o]l.) the starling. [Prov. Eng.]

Solitary

Sol"i*ta*ry\, n. One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a recluse.
Language Translation for : solitary
Spanish: solitario,
German: einsam,
Japanese: ひとりの

solitary 
c.1340, from O.Fr. solitaire, from L. solitarius "alone, lonely," from solitas "loneliness, solitude," from solus "alone" (see sole (adj.)).

Main Entry: sol·i·tary
Pronunciation: 'säl-&-"ter-E
Function: adjective
: occurring singly and not as part of a group solitary lesion>
Search another word or see solitary on Thesaurus | Reference