solitary

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

soli·tary [solitary solitaries] adjective, noun BrE [ˈsɒlətri] NAmE [ˈsɑːləteri]
adjective
1. usually before noun done alone; without other people
•She enjoys long solitary walks.
•He led a solitary life.
2. (of a person or an animal)enjoying being alone; frequently spending time alone
•He was a solitary child.
•Tigers are solitary animals.
3. (of a person, thing or place)alone, with no other people or things around
Syn: ↑single
•a solitary farm
•A solitary light burned dimly in the hall.
4. usually before noun (especially in negative sentences and questions)only one
Syn: ↑single
•There was not a solitary shred of evidence (= none at all).

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Latin solitarius, from solus ‘alone’.

Thesaurus:
solitary adj.
•Tigers are solitary animals.
introverted • • reclusive • • withdrawn • • unsociable • |usually disapproving antisocial •
Opp: gregarious
a solitary/reclusive figure/man
feel unsociable/antisocial
Which word? Solitary and introverted describe sb's character; reclusive and withdrawn describe sb's behaviour. Unsociable and antisocial also describe behaviour, often a temporary state
•Why are you being so unsociable/antisocial when we've got guests?
Derived Word: ↑solitariness
 
noun (pl. soli·taries)
1. uncountable (informal) = ↑solitary confinement
2. countable (formal)a person who chooses to live alone

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Latin solitarius, from solus ‘alone’.
 

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  lonely, unfrequented, lone(a), lonesome(a), only(a), sole(a), solitary(a), alone(p), lonely(a), nongregarious, nonsocial, hermit, recluse, solitudinarian, troglodyte, solitary confinement