First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
recluse
1recluse
adjective re·cluse \ˈre-ˌklüs, ri-ˈklüs, ˈre-ˌklüz\
Definition of RECLUSE
: marked by withdrawal from society : solitary
— re·clu·sive \ri-ˈklü-siv, -ziv\ adjective
— re·clu·sive·ly adverb
— re·clu·sive·ness noun
Origin of RECLUSE
Middle English, from Anglo-French reclus, literally, shut away, from Late Latin reclusus, past participle of recludere to shut up, from Latin re- + claudere to close — more at close
Rhymes with RECLUSE
Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, excuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, induce, Lanús, misuse, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, obtuse, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, profuse, Proteus, Purus, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose
2recluse
noun
: a person who lives alone and avoids other people
Full Definition of RECLUSE
: a person who leads a secluded or solitary life
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Examples of RECLUSE
- My neighbor is a recluse—I only see him about once a year.
- <he was sick of cities and crowds, so he decided to go live by himself in the woods as a recluse>
First Known Use of RECLUSE
13th century
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