Adjacent Words

Solitary ant definitions

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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Solitary Sol"i*ta*ry, 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. Those rare and solitary, these in flocks. --Milton. Hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary. --Shak. 2. Performed, passed, or endured alone; as, a solitary journey; a solitary life. Satan . . . explores his solitary flight. --Milton. 3. ot much visited or frequented remote from society; retired; lonely; as, a solitary residence or place. 4. Not inhabited or occupied; without signs of inhabitants or occupation; desolate; deserted; silent; still; hence, gloomy; dismal; as, the solitary desert. How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people. --Lam. i. 1. Let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein. --Job iii. 7. 5. Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of vengeance; a solitary example. 6. (Bot.) Not associated with others of the same kind. Solitary ant (Zo["o]l.), any solitary hymenopterous insect of the family Mutillid[ae]. 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 (Zo["o]l.), any species of bee which does not form communities. Solitary sandpiper (Zo["o]l.), an American tattler (Totanus solitarius). Solitary snipe (Zo["o]l.), the great snipe. [Prov. Eng.] Solitary thrush (Zo["o]l.) the starling. [Prov. Eng.]