Definition: solitary

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

solitary
     adj 1: characterized by or preferring solitude in mode of life;
            "the eremitic element in the life of a religious
            colony"; "a lone wolf"; "a man of a solitary
            disposition" [syn: eremitic, eremitical, lone]
     2: being the only one; single and isolated from others; "the
        lone doctor in the entire county"; "a lonesome pine"; "an
        only child"; "the sole heir"; "the sole example"; "a
        solitary instance of cowardice"; "a solitary speck in the
        sky" [syn: lone, lonesome, only, sole,
         solitary]
     3: of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or
        colonies; "solitary bees" [syn: nongregarious, nonsocial]
     4: lacking companions or companionship; "he was alone when we
        met him"; "she is alone much of the time"; "the lone skier
        on the mountain"; "a lonely fisherman stood on a tuft of
        gravel"; "a lonely soul"; "a solitary traveler" [syn: alone,
         lone, lonely]
     5: enjoyed or performed alone; "a lonely existence"; "his
        lonely room"; "took a solitary walk"; "enjoyed her
        solitary dinner"; "solitary pursuits such as reading"
        [syn: lonely]
     6: separated from or unfrequented by others; remote or
        secluded; "a lonely crossroads"; "a solitary retreat"; "a
        trail leading to an unfrequented lake" [syn: lonely,
        unfrequented]
     n 1: confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other prisoners;
          "he was held in solitary" [syn: solitary confinement]
     2: one who lives in solitude [syn: hermit, recluse, solitudinarian,
         troglodyte]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.]

Solitaire \Sol`i*taire"\, n. [F. See Solitary.]
   1. A person who lives in solitude; a recluse; a hermit.
      --Pope.

   2. A single diamond in a setting; also, sometimes, a precious
      stone of any kind set alone.

            Diamond solitaires blazing on his breast and wrists.
                                                  --Mrs. R. H.
                                                  Davis.

   3. A game which one person can play alone; -- applied to many
      games of cards, etc.; also, to a game played on a board
      with pegs or balls, in which the object is, beginning with
      all the places filled except one, to remove all but one of
      the pieces by ``jumping,'' as in draughts.

   4. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) A large extinct bird (Pezophaps solitaria) which
          formerly inhabited the islands of Mauritius and
          Rodrigeuz. It was larger and taller than the wild
          turkey. Its wings were too small for flight. Called
          also solitary.
      (b) Any species of American thrushlike birds of the genus
          Myadestes. They are noted their sweet songs and
          retiring habits. Called also fly-catching thrush. A
          West Indian species (Myadestes sibilans) is called
          the invisible bird.

Solitary \Sol"i*ta*ry\, n.
   One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a
   recluse.