'hermit' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'eremita', where the Greek root 'erēmos' meant 'desert'.

'hermit' changed from Old French word 'hermite' (itself from Late Latin 'eremita' and Greek 'erēmítēs') and eventually became the modern English word 'hermit' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'a person of the desert' (one living in the desert); over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person living apart from society, often for religious reasons', and later widened to include secular recluses.