—adj.
1 living alone; not gregarious; without companions; lonely (a solitary existence).
2 (of a place) secluded or unfrequented.
3 single or sole (a solitary instance).
4 (of an insect) not living in communities.
5 Bot. growing singly, not in a cluster.
—n. (pl. -ies)
1 a recluse or anchorite.
2 colloq. = solitary confinement.
Phrases and idioms:
solitary confinement isolation of a prisoner in a separate cell as a punishment.
Derivatives:
solitarily adv. solitariness n.
Etymology: ME f. L solitarius f. solus alone
Useful english dictionary. 2012.