ornamental hermit en · NOUN
Etymology
From ornamental + hermit
Meanings
- A person hired to live in a specially built, rustic hermitage on an estate; hired in the 18th and early 19th centuries by wealthy landowners with strict conditions often requiring them to live in solitude, not groom themselves, and dress in a wild, often druidic, fashion; regularly cared for, consulted for advice, or viewed for entertainment.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ornamental hermits | Number=Plur | lexicographic |