Hermit, Hermitess
A person who lives alone for religious reasons. The term is from the Greek for “wilderness” or “uninhabited regions.” Hermits often live in a place that is remote from others. They may be distinguished from anchorites who live in a cell near a community. Hermits typically live contemplative lives devoted to meditation, prayer, manual work, and reading. Hermits may be called eremites or solitaries. See Anchorite, Anchoress.
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.