- Solitary
- 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.
[1913 Webster]
Those rare and solitary, these in flocks. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. Performed, passed, or endured alone; as, a solitary journey; a solitary life. [1913 Webster]
Satan . . . explores his solitary flight. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
3. Not much visited or frequented; remote from society; retired; lonely; as, a solitary residence or place. [1913 Webster]
4. Not inhabited or occupied; without signs of inhabitants or occupation; desolate; deserted; silent; still; hence, gloomy; dismal; as, the solitary desert. [1913 Webster]
How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people. --Lam. i. 1. [1913 Webster]
Let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein. --Job iii. 7. [1913 Webster]
5. Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of vengeance; a solitary example. [1913 Webster]
6. (Bot.) Not associated with others of the same kind. [1913 Webster]
{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.] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
