Hermitage
|her-mi-tage|
🇺🇸
/ˈhɝmɪtɪdʒ/
🇬🇧
/ˈhɜːmɪtɪdʒ/
(hermitage)
a hermit's secluded dwelling / secluded retreat
Etymology
'hermitage' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'hermitage', where 'hermite' meant 'hermit' (a religious recluse).
'hermitage' changed from the Old French word 'hermitage' and entered Middle English with much the same form, eventually becoming the modern English 'hermitage'.
Initially, it meant 'dwelling of a hermit'; over time the sense broadened to include any secluded retreat or, as a proper name, institutions such as museums called 'The Hermitage'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a dwelling or shelter occupied by a hermit; a secluded place where someone lives in solitude for religious or personal reasons.
He built a small hermitage on the slopes of the mountain to live a quiet, solitary life.
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Noun 2
a place of retreat or seclusion used for meditation, prayer, or recovery; a sanctuary or refuge.
The coastal hermitage became a favored spot for writers seeking solitude and inspiration.
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Noun 3
a proper name for notable buildings or institutions called 'The Hermitage' (e.g., the state museum in Saint Petersburg).
The Hermitage in Saint Petersburg houses one of the world's largest and most important art collections.
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Last updated: 2025/10/07 04:08