From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsolitarysol‧i‧ta‧ry1 /ˈsɒlətəri $ ˈsɑːləteri/ ●○○ adjective 1 [only before noun]ONLY used to emphasize that there is only one of something SYN single the solitary goal of the match The benches were empty except for a single solitary figure.2 ALONEdoing something without anyone else with you a long, solitary walk3 ALONEspending a lot of time alone, usually because you like being alone OPP sociable a solitary man Pandas are solitary creatures. He led a rather solitary existence.4 → not a solitary word/thing etc —solitarily adverb —solitariness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
solitary• Normally solitary characters, after infection these animals lived in harmony with each other, mating and raising many pups.• It isn't a solitary clunker that produced a 103-85 loss to the Miami Heat that is offensive.• The larvae live in kin groups and are aposematic, while the adults disperse to live a solitary existence and are cryptic.• I could see a solitary figure outlined against the horizon.• A solitary figure stood at the end of the bar.• There was one solitary hotel left standing after the earthquake.• Ed enjoys the solitary life of a rancher.• A solitary light shone in the street.• He looked pleased: a solitary man, by the look of him, one who cherished his privacy.• Gimson was a deeply solitary man with a contradictory need for close male friendships.• Hamilton was described as a solitary man.• She pulls the Datsun over and enjoys her first solitary moment since her arrival.• Even his hobbies were the solitary pursuits of hunting and fishing.• A solitary tear escaped his eye, and he cursed himself for it.• Helena took long solitary walks to the lake.• She was a very solitary woman who didn't make friends easily.solitarysolitary2 noun (plural solitaries) 1 [uncountable] informalSCJ solitary confinement He spent two weeks in solitary.2 [countable] British English literaryALONE someone who lives completely alone SYN hermitExamples from the Corpus
solitary• Then shepherds - but shepherds are solitaries.• When he left the infirmary he was due to spend two weeks in solitary.• Judge orders confiscation of smuggler's £1.5m assets Drugs baron faces 15 years in solitary.• The gods of the field incline with the solitaries of the study.Origin solitary1 (1300-1400) Latin solitarius, from solitas “solitude”, from solus; → SOLE1 