— solitarily , adv. — solitariness , n.
/sol"i ter'ee/ , adj., n., pl. solitaries .
adj.
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. Zool. living habitually alone or in pairs, as certain wasps. Cf. social (def. 10).
n.
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. See solitary confinement .
[ 1300-50; ME solitarius alone, by itself, solitary, equiv. to solit ( as ) solitude ( sol ( us ) SOLE 1 + -itas -ITY) + -arius -ARY ]
Syn. 1. lone. 7. isolated, retired, sequestered, remote. 9, 10 . hermit, recluse. 10. eremite.