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. 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.
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 (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.]
Sol"i*ta*ry (?), n. One who lives
alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a recluse.
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. 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.
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 (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.]
Sol"i*ta*ry (?), n. One who lives
alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a recluse.
