Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for hermit

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 a person who has withdrawn to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • herˈmitically, adverb
  • ˈhermit-ˌlike, adjective
  • herˈmitic, adjective
Discover More

Other Words From

  • her·mitic her·miti·cal hermit·ish adjective
  • her·miti·cal·ly adverb
  • hermit·like adjective
  • hermit·ry hermit·ship noun
  • unher·mitic adjective
  • unher·miti·cal adjective
  • unher·miti·cal·ly adverb
Discover More

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
Discover More

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
Discover More

Example Sentences

In “Snail,” a traumatized and lonely young Grace risks becoming a hoarding hermit until she bonds with the older Pinky, who is the essence of joie de vivre.

Karen, 60, from Sheffield, said she was left living "just like a hermit" after having to move house and building up sizeable debts following the end of a relationship.

From BBC

"Earlier this week, we’ve had a hermit crab that came back from Malta in a shell," he said.

From BBC

But when the king failed to invite him to the wedding party, the furious hermit cursed his creation with a potent stench.

From Salon

Wildlife preserves were filled with hikers seeking fresh air with a side of hermit thrush.

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement