from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hermit \Her"mit\, n. [OE. ermite, eremite, heremit, heremite, F.
hermite, ermite, L. eremita, Gr. ?, fr. ? lonely, solitary.
Cf. {Eremite}.]
1. A person who retires from society and lives in solitude; a
recluse; an anchoret; especially, one who so lives from
religious motives.
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He had been Duke of Savoy, and after a very glorious
reign, took on him the habit of a hermit, and
retired into this solitary spot. --Addison.
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2. A beadsman; one bound to pray for another. [Obs.] "We rest
your hermits." --Shak.
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3. (Cookery) A spiced molasses cookie, often containing
chopped raisins and nuts.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Hermit crab} (Zool.), a marine decapod crustacean of the
family {Pagurid[ae]}. The species are numerous, and belong
to many genera. Called also {soldier crab}. The hermit
crabs usually occupy the dead shells of various univalve
mollusks. See Illust. of {Commensal}.
{Hermit thrush} (Zool.), an American thrush ({Turdus
Pallasii}), with retiring habits, but having a sweet song.
{Hermit warbler} (Zool.), a California wood warbler
({Dendroica occidentalis}), having the head yellow, the
throat black, and the back gray, with black streaks.
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