noun
hermit
HUR-mit/ˈhɜːrmɪt/
a person who lives alone, away from society
The hermit lives alone in a cabin far from town.
Etymology
The Greek ancestor meant “person of the desert.” English first used the word for a religious recluse living apart for meditation, then broadened it to a person living in solitude.
In context
… Lopez became a Hermit living in a cave hunting birds and growing vegetables …
More examples
- She lives like a hermit and rarely welcomes visitors.
- The island's only resident is an elderly hermit.
- Two hermits live in separate huts deep in the forest.
Forms
hermit · hermits
hermitage noun — a secluded dwelling for a hermit
Similar words
- recluse
- Emphasizes avoiding other people rather than simply living alone.
- loner
- Often prefers solitude but may still live among others.