1.  In modern Neo-Paganism, a person who practices Witchcraft by himself or herself as opposed to being part of a group (traditionally called a Coven). The Solitary Witch, also known as a Solitary, practices this way out of choice, out of the necessity of keeping their practices private, or having no other Witches in the area with which to practice. A Solitary Witch may have learned his or her practices with the help of a Coven, but more often learns from books, websites, etc. The most popular resources for Solitary Witches include Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham, and Solitary Witch by Silver RavenWolf (both published by Llewellyn Publications).

2.  Some Solitary Witches have begun to call themselves “Solitaires,” which has added a new definition to that word as they are certainly not a gem in a setting by itself, a type of North American thrush, an extinct bird related to the dodo, or a card game played by oneself.

See also:  Solitary