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Solitary

//ˈsɑlɪˌtɛɹi// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Living or being by oneself; alone; having no companion present not-comparable

    "The solitary, lumbering trolls of Scandinavian mythology would sometimes be turned to stone by exposure to sunlight. Barack Obama is hoping that several measures announced on June 4th will have a similarly paralysing effect on their modern incarnation, the patent troll."

  2. 2
    Performed, passed, or endured alone. not-comparable

    "a solitary journey"

  3. 3
    Not much visited or frequented; remote from society not-comparable

    "a solitary residence or place"

  4. 4
    Not inhabited or occupied; without signs of inhabitants or occupation; desolate; deserted not-comparable

    "the solitary desert"

  5. 5
    Gloomy; dismal, because of not being inhabited. not-comparable
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    Single; individual; sole. not-comparable

    "a solitary example"

  2. 7
    Not associated with others of the same kind. not-comparable
Adjective
  1. 1
    devoid of creatures wordnet
  2. 2
    being the only one; single and isolated from others wordnet
  3. 3
    characterized by or preferring solitude wordnet
  4. 4
    lacking companions or companionship wordnet
  5. 5
    of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or colonies wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchorite, hermit or recluse. countable

    "He brooded and intrigued fantastically. He was becoming one of the big-time solitaries. And he wasn't meant to be a solitary. He was meant to be in active life, a social creature."

  2. 2
    Archaic form of solitaire (“Rodrigues solitaire”). alt-of, archaic
  3. 3
    one who lives in solitude wordnet
  4. 4
    Ellipsis of solitary confinement. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable

    "The prisoners who started the riot were moved to solitary."

  5. 5
    confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other prisoners wordnet
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  1. 6
    The state of being solitary; solitude uncountable

    "You must wonder why I'm relentless and all strung out/I'm consumed by the chill of solitary"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English solitarie, borrowed from Latin sōlitārius. Doublet of solitaire.

Etymology 2

From Middle English solitarie, borrowed from Latin sōlitārius. Doublet of solitaire.

See also for "solitary"

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