Hermitage
Noun
- The dwelling of a hermit, especially when small and remote.
Example Sentences
“He lived in his hermitage for 50 years — so long that no one could remember who lived there before him.”
“We bought our cottage with 5 acres of land because we wanted a hermitage to escape to.”
“While walking through the woods, the kids discovered an abandoned hermitage.”
Word Origin
Greek, 14th century
Why this word?
“Hermit” (“one who lives in seclusion”), plus the suffix “-age” (“place of living or business”), produces “hermitage,” an isolated home. While it can literally designate the home of a hermit, it more often is used for a retreat or hideaway, or a religious dwelling, such as a monastery. It’s also been adopted as the name of many towns and villages. Travelers can visit Hermitage in England (in Dorset and Berkshire), Scotland, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.