Anchoritic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to a mode of living that emphasizes solitude for spiritual growth
2. Related to individuals who devote themselves to a life of isolation for the sake of religious practices
3. Referring to a lifestyle characterized by seclusion and commitment to spiritual or religious devotion

Etymology: Anchoritic is simply anchorite with the adjective-forming suffix "-ic" added, so the story belongs to the older noun. That noun comes from Ancient Greek "anachōrētēs", built from "ana-" (back, away) and "chōros" (space, place), with the sense of someone who withdraws from the world. The Greek verb "anachōreō" meant to retreat or withdraw, and the "-tēs" ending marks a person who does the action. The word passed into Late Latin as "anachōrēta" and then reached English as "anchorite", a hermit who lived in seclusion, often walled into a cell attached to a church for a life of prayer. The "-ic" ending came into English through Old French and Latin, where "-icus" formed adjectives meaning "pertaining to". Adding it to "anchorite" produced "anchoritic", describing a manner of life or a place suited to such solitary devotion. Its use is therefore a straightforward derivation rather than a separate coinage.

Synonyms: hermitic, ascetic, reclusive, solitary, eremitic

Antonyms: social, gregarious, outgoing, extroverted, friendly