hermit
Loading your saved state.
hermit
A person who withdraws from society for personal or religious reasons and lives in seclusion in a remote place; a recluse.
Der alte Einsiedler lebte allein in einer kleinen Hütte tief im Wald.
The old hermit lived alone in a small hut deep in the forest.
The word is derived from 'ein' (alone) and 'siedeln' (to live, settle). An 'Einsiedler' (hermit) is therefore literally a person who settles or lives alone.
Er entschied sich, als Einsiedler in den Bergen zu leben.
He decided to live as a hermit in the mountains.
Common verbs used with 'Einsiedler' (hermit) are 'als Einsiedler leben' (to live as a hermit) or 'zum Einsiedler werden' (to become a hermit), to describe the state or the change.
Mein Onkel ist nach seiner Pensionierung ein echter Einsiedler geworden.
After his retirement, my uncle became a real hermit.
The literal meaning (m01) often refers to a religious or spiritual context in the seclusion of nature. The figurative, colloquial meaning (m02) simply describes a person with little social contact in everyday life.
Er verlässt kaum das Haus und trifft keine Freunde – er lebt wie ein Einsiedler.
He hardly ever leaves the house and doesn't meet friends — he lives like a hermit.
outsider / underdog
'der Außenseiter' and 'der Einsiedler' can both have to do with having little contact with other people. Still, they describe different situations. An 'Außenseiter' is not really integrated into a group or society; often, others also decide that he does not belong. An 'Einsiedler' (hermit / recluse) lives deliberately or very strongly withdrawn from others and is often alone. The words can be confused because both people may seem socially isolated. Remember: 'Außenseiter' describes a person's position in relation to a group, while 'Einsiedler' describes a withdrawn way of life.
Nach dem Umzug lebte der alte Mann fast wie ein Einsiedler am Rand des Dorfes.
After the move, the old man lived almost like a hermit on the edge of the village.
Der neue Schüler wurde zum Außenseiter, weil die anderen ihn kaum ansprachen.
The new student became an outsider because the others hardly spoke to him.