Recluse
/rɪˈkluːs/noun
A person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people.
Did you know?The term 'recluse' comes from Latin roots meaning 'to shut away,' echoing the mystical practice of seeking solitude for spiritual enlightenment.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
recludere
“to shut back or close off”
Late Latin
Late Latin
reclusus
“shut up or hidden away”
Old French
Old French
reclus
“a hermit or one who lives in solitude”
14th Century
Middle English
recluse
“a person who withdraws from society for religious reasons”
Modern English
English
recluse
“a solitary individual, often with connotations of seclusion or avoidance of society”