Basic Details
Word: Hermitage
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A quiet place where a person lives alone, especially someone who wants to be away from society.
Synonyms: Retreat, solitude, sanctuary
Antonyms: Community, society, companionship
Idioms and Phrases
- Take to the hermitage: To withdraw from society and seek peace or clarity. Example: "After the stressful week, he decided to take to the hermitage at his grandmother's cottage."
- Hermitage of the mind: Refers to a mental space where one finds solitude to think or reflect. Example: "She often retreats to her hermitage of the mind when she needs to gather her thoughts."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The artist built a hermitage in the woods to concentrate on his painting without distractions.
Example 2: Many writers have gone on retreats to a hermitage to find inspiration in solitude.
Example 3: The old hermitage at the edge of the village is said to be haunted by the spirit of a long-gone monk.
Fun Fact
Did you know that some famous historical figures, like Henry David Thoreau, lived in hermitages temporarily to escape society and reflect on nature and life's essentials?
Famous Quote
"In the silence of the hermitage, I found the music of my soul." Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "hermitage" mean?
a) A busy city
b) A quiet place for solitude
c) A type of animal
d) A kind of dish
Answer: b) A quiet place for solitude
2. Which of these is a synonym of "hermitage"?
a) Community
b) Retreat
c) Celebration
d) School
Answer: b) Retreat
3. Which of these is an antonym of "hermitage"?
a) Sanctuary
b) Society
c) Solitude
d) Privacy
Answer: b) Society
4. Which sentence uses "hermitage" correctly?
a) The hermitage was filled with noise and chaos.
b) She painted in her hermitage while enjoying the peace of nature.
c) The hermitage served delicious meals every night.
d) The hermitage is a big place for public gatherings.
Answer: b) She painted in her hermitage while enjoying the peace of nature.
5. Which idiom refers to withdrawing from society?
a) Take to the hermitage
b) Gathering storm
c) All in a day's work
d) Burn the midnight oil
Answer: a) Take to the hermitage
