hermit

[hur-mit]

noun

1. a person who has withdrawn to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.

   Synonyms: cenobite, anchorite, monastic, eremite

2. any person living in seclusion; recluse.

3. Zoology.,  an animal of solitary habits.

4. Ornithology.,  any of numerous hummingbirds of the genera Glaucis and Phaethornis, having curved bills and dull-colored rather than iridescent plumage.

5. a spiced molasses cookie often containing raisins or nuts.

6. Obsolete.,  a beadsman.

hermit

/ ˈhɜːmɪt /

noun

1. one of the early Christian recluses

2. any person living in solitude

Other Word Forms

• hermitic adjective
• hermitical adjective
• hermitish adjective
• hermitically adverb
• hermitlike adjective
• hermitry noun
• hermitship noun
• unhermitic adjective
• unhermitical adjective
• unhermitically adverb
• hermit-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hermit¹

1175–1225; Middle English ermite, hermite, heremite < Old French < Late Latin erēmīta < Greek erēmītḗs living in a desert, equivalent to erḗm ( ia ) desert (derivative of erêmos desolate) + -ītēs -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hermit¹

C13: from Old French hermite, from Late Latin erēmīta, from Greek erēmitēs living in the desert, from erēmia desert, from erēmos lonely

Example Sentences

North Korea is one of the world's most repressive totalitarian states, with Kim and his family ruling the hermit nation for decades.

From BBC

It’s another element in Saudi Arabia’s about-face from a hermit kingdom notorious for puritanical laws to a tourist destination that can draw 150 million visitors a year.

From Los Angeles Times

Has there ever been a better time to be a hermit?

From Salon

Conductor Sir Simon Rattle spoke of her as a "flying hermit", always in orbit and only occasionally visiting Earth.

From BBC

Phone signals and internet access were also not available in the hermit state.

From BBC

Related Words

• recluse