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solitary |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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.] From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Solitary \Sol"i*ta*ry\, n. One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a recluse. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: 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}, {lone(a)}] 2: of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or colonies; "solitary bees" [syn: {nongregarious}, {nonsocial}] 3: 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(p)}, {lone(a)}, {lonely(a)}] 4: 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(a)}] 5: 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(a)}, {lonesome(a)}, {only(a)}, {sole(a)}, {solitary(a)}] 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(a)}, {unfrequented}]
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