Analyzing Word Choice in Character Description

In the following excerpt from a novel, the author employs specific word choices to convey mood and theme:

"The bustling marketplace teemed with life; vendors called out, their voices a vibrant tapestry of accents, while the air was suffused with the rich aroma of spices mingling with the sweetness of ripe fruits. Yet, amidst this vivid scene, a solitary figure stood still, her expression distant and forlorn, as if she were a ghost passing silently through a world that thrived around her."

Which word choice most significantly contributes to the description of the solitary figure?