from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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Those rare and solitary, these in flocks. --Milton.
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Hie home unto my chamber,
Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary. --Shak.
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2. Performed, passed, or endured alone; as, a solitary
journey; a solitary life.
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Satan . . . explores his solitary flight. --Milton.
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3. Not much visited or frequented; remote from society;
retired; lonely; as, a solitary residence or place.
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4. Not inhabited or occupied; without signs of inhabitants or
occupation; desolate; deserted; silent; still; hence,
gloomy; dismal; as, the solitary desert.
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How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of
people. --Lam. i. 1.
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Let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come
therein. --Job iii. 7.
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5. Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of
vengeance; a solitary example.
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6. (Bot.) Not associated with others of the same kind.
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{Solitary ant} (Zool.), any solitary hymenopterous insect of
the family {Mutillidae}. 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} (Zool.), any species of bee which does not
form communities.
{Solitary sandpiper} (Zool.), an American tattler ({Totanus
solitarius}).
{Solitary snipe} (Zool.), the great snipe. [Prov. Eng.]
{Solitary thrush} (Zool.) the starling. [Prov. Eng.]
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