Anachoretic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to a lifestyle of isolation and withdrawal from society, frequently for spiritual or introspective reasons
2. Relating to an existence marked by seclusion from others, usually aimed at profound contemplation or religious devotion
3. Characterized by a way of living that embraces solitude and separation from the community, often for deep spiritual reflection or personal insight

Etymology: Greek "anachōrein" meant "to withdraw" or "retreat," built from "ana-," meaning "back," and "chōrein," "to make room" or "go," which comes from "chōros," "space." Early Christian hermits who withdrew into the desert were called "anachōrētai," literally "those who withdraw," and English "anchorite" and this adjective descend from that Greek noun and its related forms. The word is often mistaken for a relative of "anchor," but the two are unrelated. The ship's anchor comes from Greek "ankyra," a different word with a different sense. The resemblance is pure coincidence, though it has led many people to imagine hermits as figuratively fixed in place, which they were in a sense, since many anchorites lived enclosed in small cells.