solitariness
English
Etymology
From solitary + -ness.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈsɒlɪt(ə)ɹɪnəs/
Noun
solitariness (countable and uncountable, plural solitarinesses)
- The state or quality of being solitary.
- c. 1580s, Philip Sidney, “Astrophel and Stella”, in Mary Sidney, editor, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia […] [The New Arcadia], 3rd edition, London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1598, OCLC 504224957, sonnet 96, page 564:
- In both a mazefull ſolitarineſſe: / In night of ſprites the gaſtly powers to ſtur, / In thee or ſprites or ſprited gaſtlineſſe: […]
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 8, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:
- I saw a Deane of S. Hillarie of Poictiers, reduced by reason and the incommoditie of his melancholy to such a continuall solitarinesse, that when I entered into his chamber he had never removed one step out of it in two and twenty yeares before […].
- 1646, Joseph Hall, The Balm of Gilead
- So much as doing good is better than not doing evil, will I account Christian good fellowship better than an eremitish and melancholy solitariness.
Translations
state or quality of being solitary
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