recluse etymology

Etymology:

The word "recluse" derives from the Latin word "recludere," meaning "to shut out" or "to separate."

Meaning:

A recluse is a person who lives in solitude and isolation, typically by choice. Recluses may withdraw from society for various reasons, such as religious devotion, personal trauma, or a preference for a simple or contemplative life.

Origin:

The concept of reclusion has existed throughout history, across different cultures and religions. In ancient times, hermits and ascetics isolated themselves from society to pursue spiritual enlightenment or to escape worldly distractions.

In Christian monasticism, reclusion was often practiced as a form of extreme asceticism. Recluses would live in caves or remote cells, devoting themselves to prayer, fasting, and meditation.

The term "recluse" gained wider usage in the 17th century, particularly in relation to people who retreated from society due to mental illness or social stigma. In the 19th and 20th centuries, reclusion became associated with individuals who chose to live isolated lives in pursuit of artistic, intellectual, or personal growth.

Examples:

• St. Simeon Stylites, a 5th-century Christian saint who lived on a pillar for 36 years.
• Emily Dickinson, a 19th-century American poet who lived a secluded life in her family home.
• J.D. Salinger, a 20th-century American writer who retreated from public life after the success of his novel "The Catcher in the Rye."

recluse relate terms

• close

  Etymology Middle English cloosen from Old English lūcan Proto Germanic lūkaną P

• closed

  Etymology The word closed derives from the Middle English word closen which in turn

• closing

  Etymology The word closing comes from the Middle English word closen which itself co

• reclusive

  Etymology Recluse derives from the French word reclus meaning shut up which in tu

• recluse

  Etymology The word recluse derives from the Latin word recludere meaning to shut o

• hermit

  Etymology The word hermit comes from the Late Latin word eremita which in turn is d

• solitary

  Etymology Latin solitarius solitary Proto Indo European se li alone Me

• solitaire

  Etymology The word solitaire is derived from the French word solitaire meaning sing

• anchorite

  Etymology Ancient Greek ἀναχωρητής anachorētḗs one who withdraws fro

• solitude

  Etymology Latin solus alone solitary tudo suffix forming nouns denoting state

• nation

  Etymology The word nation originates from the Latin word natio which means birth

• charge

  Etymology The word charge comes from the Old French word carge which in turn derives

• tacit

  Etymology From Latin tacitus meaning silent unspoken implied Meaning Tacit re

• predicament

  Etymology Late Middle English from Old French prédicament from Late Latin praedicame

• haywire

  Etymology The word haywire is a combination of two words Hay Short for haystack