Hermit word meaning and definition

[noun] one who lives in solitude
[noun] one retired from society for religious reasons

\Her"mit\, n. [OE. ermite, eremite, heremit, heremite, F. hermite, ermite, L. eremita, Gr. ?, fr. ? lonely, solitary. Cf. {Eremite}.] 1. A person who retires from society and lives in solitude; a recluse; an anchoret; especially, one who so lives from religious motives. He had been Duke of Savoy, and after a very glorious reign, took on him the habit of a hermit, and retired into this solitary spot. --Addison. 2. A beadsman; one bound to pray for another. [Obs.] ``We rest your hermits.'' --Shak. {Hermit crab} (Zo["o]l.), a marine decapod crustacean of the family {Pagurid[ae]}. The species are numerous, and belong to many genera. Called also {soldier crab}. The hermit crabs usually occupy the dead shells of various univalve mollusks. See Illust. of {Commensal}. {Hermit thrush} (Zo["o]l.), an American thrush ({Turdus Pallasii}), with retiring habits, but having a sweet song. {Hermit warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a California wood warbler ({Dendroica occidentalis}), having the head yellow, the throat black, and the back gray, with black streaks.
\Her"mit\, n. (Cookery) A spiced molasses cooky, often containing chopped raisins and nuts.

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