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solitude

solitude

noun soh-lee-TÜD Less Common
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: Latin solitudo

Also means

loneliness

Usage Note

Solitude can be positive (chosen quiet) or negative (painful isolation), unlike English where it tends toward the positive. French literature, especially Romanticism, made la solitude a celebrated theme. Chercher la solitude means to seek time alone, while souffrir de la solitude means to suffer from loneliness.

Examples

"Il apprécie la solitude après une longue journée."

Natural Translation

He appreciates solitude after a long day.

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