solus
Definition
- Adjective (often used predicatively):
- Alone; solitary: "solus" means being alone, unaccompanied, or by oneself. It is derived from Latin and is primarily used in stage directions or humorous contexts.
- Stage direction: In theatrical scripts, "solus" indicates that a character enters or is present on stage without any other characters.
Usage Examples
- As a stage direction:
- Enter King solus. (The King enters alone, without attendants or other characters.)
- In humorous or informal contexts:
- After the party, I was solus in the kitchen, cleaning up. (I was alone in the kitchen.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be solus": to be in a state of solitude.
- The director insisted the actor remain solus during the monologue. (The actor must be alone on stage for the speech.)
- "solus cum sola": a Latin phrase meaning "alone with a woman" (used in legal or theatrical contexts to indicate a private encounter).
- The scene required the two characters to be solus cum sola, emphasizing their intimacy. (The characters were alone together.)
Variants and Related Words
- Solo (adj/n): a more common term for "alone" or "unaccompanied," often used in music or aviation.
- She performed a solo piece on the violin. (She played alone, without an orchestra.)
- Solitary (adj): characterized by being alone; isolated.
- He lived a solitary life in the mountains. (He lived alone and secluded.)
Synonyms
- Alone: without others present.
- Unaccompanied: without someone else accompanying.
- Lone: being the only one.
Related Idioms
- To go it alone: to act without help or company.
- After years of teamwork, he decided to go it alone and start his own business. (He chose to work by himself.)
Phrasal Verbs
(None directly associated with "solus," as it is not used as a verb.)
Related Terms in Theatrical Context
- Solo performance: a dramatic piece performed by a single actor.
- The play was a solo performance, with the actor playing multiple roles. (The actor performed alone on stage.)