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solitude definition

soli·tude (säl′ə to̵̅o̅d′, -tyo̵̅o̅d′)

noun

  1. the state of being solitary, or alone; seclusion, isolation, or remoteness
  2. a lonely or secluded place

Etymology: ME < MFr < L solitudo < solus, alone, sole

Related Forms:

  • solitudinous sol′i·tu′·di·nous (-to̵̅o̅d′'n əs, -tyo̵̅o̅d′-) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

solitude Synonyms

solitude

n.

isolation, seclusion, retirement; see silence 1.

solitude refers to the state of one who is completely alone, cut off from all human contact, and sometimes stresses the loneliness of such a condition the solitude of a hermit; isolation suggests physical separation from others, often an involuntary detachment resulting from the force of circumstances the isolation of a forest ranger; seclusion suggests retirement or confinement from intercourse with the outside world, as by remaining in one's home, a remote place, etc. lived in seclusion to avoid publicity


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

solitude Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • hill: I'm a runner and a walker and I love the solitude of the hills.

Converse of object

  • prefer: I preferred solitude anyway; it was the medium in which I had been raised, in which I swam comfortably.

Preposition: in

  • order: There was an enormous yearning in me to go into solitude in order to develop my will.

Adjective modifier

  • peaceful: Each of these allows you to enjoy the natural beauties of this scenic area along with the peaceful solitude away from city life.

Noun used with modifier

  • O: In 1816 Hunt published Keats's sonnet O Solitude in the Examiner and in 1821 La Belle Dame sans Merci in the Indicator.
solitude usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

solitude quotes

   Ah! two desires toss about The poet's feverish blood. One drives him to the world without, And one to solitude.

-Arnold, Matthew

It had been hard for him that spake it to have put more truth and untruth together, in a few words, than in that speech: 'Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast, or a god.'

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

La solitude re¤  tablit aussi bien les harmonies du corps que celles de l'a"  me. Solitude restores the harmonies of the body no less than those of the soul.

-Bernardin de Saint-Pierre,Jacques-Henri

solitude quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"solitude." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/solitude>

APA Style

solitude. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/solitude

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