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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