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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Solitary ant

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. Not 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.]

Usage examples of "solitary ant".

A solitary ant, not three inches from his eye, gazed at him without expression.

Herry, rigid in his blankets, experienced immensity, became a solitary ant in a vast hall.