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(a), lonely(a),
           solitary]
    2: of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or
       colonies; "solitary bees" [syn: nongregarious, nonsocial,
       solitary]
    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(p), lone(a), lonely(a), solitary]
    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(a), lonesome(a), only(a), sole(a),
       solitary(a)]
    5: devoid of creatures; "a lonely crossroads"; "a solitary
       retreat"; "a trail leading to an unfrequented lake" [syn:
       lonely, solitary, unfrequented]
    n 1: confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other
         prisoners; "he was held in solitary" [syn: solitary
         confinement, solitary]
    2: one who lives in solitude [syn: hermit, recluse,
       solitary, solitudinarian, troglodyte]

Solitaire \Sol`i*taire"\, n. [F. See Solitary.]
   1. A person who lives in solitude; a recluse; a hermit.
      --Pope.
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   2. A single diamond in a setting; also, sometimes, a precious
      stone of any kind set alone.
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            Diamond solitaires blazing on his breast and wrists.
                                                  --Mrs. R. H.
                                                  Davis.
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   3. A game which one person can play alone; -- applied to many
      games of cards, etc.; also, to a game played on a board
      with pegs or balls, in which the object is, beginning with
      all the places filled except one, to remove all but one of
      the pieces by "jumping," as in draughts.
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   4. (Zool.)
      (a) A large extinct bird (Pezophaps solitaria) which
          formerly inhabited the islands of Mauritius and
          Rodrigeuz. It was larger and taller than the wild
          turkey. Its wings were too small for flight. Called
          also solitary.
      (b) Any species of American thrushlike birds of the genus
          Myadestes. They are noted their sweet songs and
          retiring habits. Called also fly-catching thrush. A
          West Indian species (Myadestes sibilans) is called
          the invisible bird.
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Solitary \Sol"i*ta*ry\, n.
   One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a
   recluse.
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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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