solitary (n.)

  1. confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other prisoners; he was held in solitary

    [ Syn: solitary confinement ]

  2. one who lives in solitude

    [ Syn: hermit , recluse , solitudinarian , troglodyte ]

    solitary (adj.)

  1. characterized by or preferring solitude; a lone wolf; a lonely existence; a man of a solitary disposition; a solitary walk

    [ Syn: lone , lonely ]

  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 , lone , lonely ]

  4. 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 , lonesome , only , sole ]

  5. devoid of creatures; a lonely crossroads; a solitary retreat; a trail leading to an unfrequented lake

    [ Syn: lonely , unfrequented ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.