n. [ F. See Solitary. ] 1. A person who lives in solitude; a recluse; a hermit. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A single diamond in a setting; also, sometimes, a precious stone of any kind set alone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diamond solitaires blazing on his breast and wrists. Mrs. R. H. Davis. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Solitary. ] A hermit; a solitary. [ Obs. ] Sir R. Twisden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being solitary; solitariness. [ Obs. ] Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a solitary manner; in solitude; alone. Mic. vii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Condition of being solitary. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those rare and solitary, these in flocks. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hie home unto my chamber,
Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Performed, passed, or endured alone; as, a solitary journey; a solitary life. [ 1913 Webster ]

Satan . . . explores his solitary flight. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not much visited or frequented; remote from society; retired; lonely; as, a solitary residence or place. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not inhabited or occupied; without signs of inhabitants or occupation; desolate; deserted; silent; still; hence, gloomy; dismal; as, the solitary desert. [ 1913 Webster ]

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people. Lam. i. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein. Job iii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of vengeance; a solitary example. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Bot.) Not associated with others of the same kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a recluse. [ 1913 Webster ]