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solitary definition

soli·tary (säl′ə ter′ē)

adjective

  1. living or being alone
  2. without others; single; only a solitary example
  3. characterized by loneliness or lack of companions
  4. lonely; remote; unfrequented a solitary place
  5. done in solitude
  6. Bot. occurring singly, as a flower
  7. Zool. living alone or in pairs; not colonial, social, etc.

Etymology: ME < OFr solitaire < L solitarius < solus, alone, sole

noun pl. solitaries -·tar′·ies

  1. a person who lives alone; esp., a hermit
  2. Informal solitary confinement

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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