6. (Bot.)
Defn: Not associated with others of the same kind. Solitary ant
(Zoöl.), any solitary hymenopterous insect of the family Mutillidæ.
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 (Zoöl.), any species of bee which does not form
communities.
— Solitary sandpiper (Zoöl.), an American tattler (Totanus
solitarius).
— Solitary snipe (Zoöl.), the great snipe. [Prov. Eng.] — Solitary
thrush (Zoöl.) the starling. [Prov. Eng.]
SOLITARY
Sol"i*ta*ry, n.
Defn: One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a recluse.
SOLITUDE Sol"i*tude, n. Etym: [F., from L. solitudo, solus alone. See Sole, a.]
1. state of being alone, or withdrawn from society; a lonely life;
loneliness.
Whosoever is delighted with solitude is either a wild beast or a god.
Bacon.
O Solitude! where are the charms That sages have seen in thy face
Cowper.
2. Remoteness from society; destitution of company; seclusion; — said of places; as, the solitude of a wood. The solitude of his little parish is become matter of great comfort to him. Law.
3. solitary or lonely place; a desert or wilderness. In these deep solitudes and awful cells Where heavenly pensive contemplation dwells. Pope.
Syn. Loneliness; soitariness; loneness; retiredness; recluseness. — Solitude, Retirement, Seclusion, Loneliness. Retirement is a withdrawal from general society, implying that a person has been engaged in its scenes. Solitude describes the fact that a person is alone; seclusion, that he is shut out from others, usually by his own choice; loneliness, that he feels the pain and oppression of being alone. Hence, retirement is opposed to a gay, active, or public life; solitude, to society; seclusion, to freedom of access on the part of others; and loneliness, enjoyment of that society which the heart demands. O blest retirement, friend to life's decline. Goldsmith. Such only can enjoy the country who are capable of thinking when they are there; then they are prepared for solitude; and in that [the country] solitude is prepared for them. Dryden. It is a place of seclusion from the external world. Bp. Horsley. These evils . . . seem likely to reduce it SOLIVAGANT
So*liv"a*gant, a. Etym: [L. solus alone + vagans wandering.]