adj 1. one only ○ It was late November, and a solitary tourist was sitting in the waterfront café. ○ I don’t remember one solitary occasion when he helped with the washing up. Synonym single 2. being alone ○ My sister lives a solitary life in the country.
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 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 (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.]
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 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 (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.]
Meaning of “solitary” in English language – adj 1. one only ○ It was late November...
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