Solitary
Solitary , adjective
[Latin solitarius, from solus alone: compare French solitaire. See Sole, a., and compare 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.
Hie home unto my chamber,
Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary.
2.
Performed, passed, or endured alone; as, a solitary journey; a solitary life.
Satan... explores his solitary flight.
3.
Not 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.
Let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein.
5.
Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of vengeance; a solitary example.
6.
(Botany) Not associated with others of the same kind.
Collocations (5)
Solitary ant (Zoology) , any solitary hymenopterous insect of the family Mutillidae. 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 (Zoology) , any species of bee which does not form communities.
Solitary sandpiper (Zoology) , an American tattler (Totanus solitarius).
Solitary snipe (Zoology) , the great snipe. [Provincial English]
Solitary thrush (Zoology) , the starling. [Provincial English]
Solitary , noun
One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a recluse.