1 hermitage | Definition of hermitage
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

hermitage

noun (1)
her·​mit·​age | \ ˈhÉ™r-mÉ™-tij How to pronounce hermitage (audio) \

Definition of hermitage

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the habitation of a hermit
b : a secluded residence or private retreat : hideaway
c : monastery
2 : the life or condition of a hermit

Hermitage

noun (2)
Her·​mi·​tage | \ ËŒ(h)er-mi-ˈtäzh How to pronounce Hermitage (audio) \

Definition of Hermitage (Entry 2 of 2)

: a red or white Rhone valley wine
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about hermitage

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for hermitage

Synonyms: Noun (1)

concealment, covert, den, hideaway, hideout, hidey-hole (or hidy-hole), lair, nest

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Did You Know?

Hermitage is of course related to hermit, a word for one who retreats from society to live in solitude, often for religious reasons. The origins of hermitage and hermit are found in Greek. Erēmos (meaning "desolate") gave rise to erēmia (meaning "desert") and eventually to the noun erēmitēs, which was used for a person living in the desert, or, more broadly, for a recluse. The word journeyed from Greek to Latin to Anglo-French to Middle English, where it eventually transformed into hermit. The related hermitage was borrowed into English from Anglo-French in the 14th century. A hermitage can be the dwelling of a hermit (e.g., a mountain shack or a monastery) or simply a secluded home.

Examples of hermitage in a Sentence

Noun (1)

 On weekends he escapes to his hermitage in the mountains. the artist's desert hermitage was a small adobe house at the end of a long dusty road

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 Now Mr McCreadie is almost ready to lay down a second album and, in preparation for recording, the musician will resume his countryside hermitage. — G.k. | Glasgow And Edinburgh, The Economist, "A young Scottish pianist marries folk with jazz," 9 Aug. 2019 The hermitage of our rescuer Manaki Devi is more modest. — Paul Salopek, National Geographic, "This world-walker finds hospitality and devotion in India," 11 June 2019 Justice The veteran French duo emerges from studio hermitage approximately every five years, and 2017 was a particularly strong return. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "Billboard Dance 100 Artists of 2018: The Complete List," 22 Mar. 2018 In 1830, a baker who was praying to recover from illness bargained for his life in exchange for making an annual pilgrimage to the saint's hermitage. — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, "What to Do in Barcelona in March 2018," 5 Mar. 2018 Built out of a cave on a rocky outcropping above a nearby castle, the small, simple dwelling is one of Central Europe’s last remaining hermitages to be continuously occupied. — Danny Lewis, Smithsonian, "Austrian Town Seeks Professional Hermit," 17 Jan. 2017 For more than 350 years, a quiet, little hermitage has sat above the Austrian town of Saalfelden. — Danny Lewis, Smithsonian, "Austrian Town Seeks Professional Hermit," 17 Jan. 2017 The site of Chapelle Dom Hue contains the ruins of what excavators believe is a religious retreat, or hermitage, which de Jersey said dates back to the 14th century. — Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, "Medieval Porpoise Burial Puzzles Scientists," 21 Sep. 2017 While the hermitage’s inhabitant will have the residence and adjoining chapel to themselves, there is no heat or running water, Cara Giaimo reports for Atlas Obscura. — Danny Lewis, Smithsonian, "Austrian Town Seeks Professional Hermit," 17 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hermitage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of hermitage

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1680, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for hermitage

Noun (2)

Tain-l'Ermitage, commune in France

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for hermitage

hermitage

noun
How to pronounce Hermitage (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of hermitage

: a place where a hermit lives
: a house or building that is far away from other houses, buildings, or people

See the full definition for hermitage in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on hermitage

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hermitage

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hermitage

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!