recluse

[ noun rek-loos, ri-kloos; adjective ri-kloos, rek-loos ]

noun

1. a person who lives in seclusion or apart from society, often for religious meditation.
2. Also a religious voluntary immured in a cave, hut, or the like, or one remaining within a cell for life.

adjective

1. shut off or apart from the world; living in seclusion, often for religious reasons.
2. characterized by seclusion; solitary.

recluse

/ rɪˈkluːʒən; rɪˈkluːs /

noun

1. a person who lives in seclusion
2. a person who lives in solitude to devote himself to prayer and religious meditation; a hermit, anchorite, or anchoress

adjective

1. solitary; retiring

Derived Forms

• reclusion, noun
• reˈclusive, adjective

Other Words From

• nonre·clusive adjective
• un·re·cluse adjective
• unre·clusive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recluse¹

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French reclus < Late Latin reclūsus, past participle of reclūdere to shut up, equivalent to re- re- + -clūd-, combining form of claudere to close + -tus past participle suffix, with dt > s

Word History and Origins

Origin of recluse¹

C13: from Old French reclus , from Late Latin reclūdere to shut away, from Latin re- + claudere to close

Example Sentences

She said she first started getting the injectables after the Bell's palsy several years back had left her face inflamed and swollen, making her a recluse.

From BBC

Or, as a “Queer Eye”-inspired skit from the animated spoof series “Robot Chicken” puts it, he’s “a closeted recluse with a penchant for steampunk accouterments.”

From Los Angeles Times

Was it on that first day after it took five hours that you also got bitten by a brown recluse?

From Salon

Delon has been in poor health in recent years and become a virtual recluse.

From BBC

As a result, Stephanie’s world narrowed beyond recognition – she became a recluse, only leaving her new house when absolutely necessary.

From BBC

Related Words

• hermit