Category:Solitary

Sol"i*ta*ry, a. Etym: [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.)

Defn: not associated with others of the same kind. Solitary ant (zoöl.), any solitary hymenopterous insect of the family mutillidæ. 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 (zoöl.), any species of bee which does not form Communities. -- solitary sandpiper (zoöl.), an american tattler (totanus Solitarius). -- solitary snipe (zoöl.), the great snipe. [prov. Eng.] -- solitary Thrush (zoöl.) the starling. [prov. Eng.]

Solitary Sol"i*ta*ry, n.

Defn: one who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a Recluse.