An"cho*ret (&?;), An"cho*rite (&?;), n. [F. anachorète, L. anachoreta, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to go back, retire; &?; + &?; to give place, retire, &?; place; perh. akin to Skr. hā to leave. Cf. Anchor a hermit.] One who renounces the world and secludes himself, usually for religious reasons; a hermit; a recluse. [Written by some authors anachoret.]

Our Savior himself . . . did not choose an anchorite's or a monastic life, but a social and affable way of conversing with mortals.
Boyle.