Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Singular

Sin′gu-lar

(sĭṉ′gū̍-lẽr)
,
Adj.
[OE.
singuler
, F.
singulier
, fr. L.
singularius
,
singularis
, fr.
singulus
single. See
Single
,
Adj.
]
1.
Separate or apart from others; single; distinct.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
And God forbid that all a company
Should rue a
singular
man’s folly.
Chaucer.
2.
Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
[Obs.]
To try the matter thus together in a
singular
combat.
Holinshed.
3.
(Logic)
Existing by itself; single; individual.
The idea which represents one . . . determinate thing, is called a
singular
idea, whether simple, complex, or compound.
I. Watts.
4.
(Law)
Each; individual;
as, to convey several parcels of land, all and
singular
.
5.
(Gram.)
Denoting one person or thing;
as, the
singular
number
; – opposed to
dual
and
plural
.
6.
Standing by itself; out of the ordinary course; unusual; uncommon; strange;
as, a
singular
phenomenon
.
So
singular
a sadness
Must have a cause as strange as the effect.
Denham.
7.
Distinguished as existing in a very high degree; rarely equaled; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional;
as, a man of
singular
gravity or attainments
.
8.
Departing from general usage or expectations; odd; whimsical; – often implying disapproval or censure.
His zeal
None seconded, as out of season judged,
Or
singular
and rash.
Milton.
To be
singular
in anything that is wise and worthy, is not a disparagement, but a praise.
Tillotson.
9.
Being alone; belonging to, or being, that of which there is but one; unique.
These busts of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost
singular
in their kind.
Addison.
Singular point in a curve
(Math.)
,
a point at which the curve possesses some peculiar properties not possessed by other points of the curve, as a cusp point, or a multiple point.
Singular proposition
(Logic)
,
a proposition having as its subject a singular term, or a common term limited to an individual by means of a singular sign.
Whately.
Singular succession
(Civil Law)
,
division among individual successors, as distinguished from universal succession, by which an estate descended in intestacy to the heirs in mass.
Singular term
(Logic)
,
a term which represents or stands for a single individual.
Syn. – Unexampled; unprecedented; eminent; extraordinary; remarkable; uncommon; rare; unusual; peculiar; strange; odd; eccentric; fantastic.

Sin′gu-lar

,
Noun.
1.
An individual instance; a particular.
[Obs.]
Dr. H. More.
2.
(Gram)
The singular number, or the number denoting one person or thing; a word in the singular number.

Webster 1828 Edition


Singular

SIN'GULAR

,
Adj.
[L. singularis,from singulus, single.]
1.
Single; not complex or compound. That idea which represents one determinate thing, is called a singular idea, whether simple, complex or compound.
2.
In grammar, expressing one person or thing; as the singular number. The singular number stands opposed to dual and plural.
3.
Particular; existing by itself; unexampled; as a singular phenomenon. Your case is hard, but not singular.
4.
Remarkable; eminent; unusual; rare; as a man of singular gravity, or singular attainments.

SIN'GULAR

,
Noun.
A particular instance. [Unusual.]

Definition 2024


Singular

Singular

See also: singular, singulár, and singulär

German

Noun

Singular m (genitive Singulars, plural Singulare)

  1. (grammar) singular

Synonyms

Antonyms

Hypernyms

singular

singular

See also: Singular, singulár, and singulär

English

Alternative forms

  • (abbreviation): sg.

Adjective

singular (comparative more singular, superlative most singular)

  1. Being only one of a larger population.
    A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.
  2. Being the only one of the kind; unique.
    She has a singular personality.
    • Addison
      These busts of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.
    • Chaucer
      And God forbid that all a company / Should rue a singular man's folly.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
  3. Distinguished by superiority; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional.
    a man of singular gravity or attainments
  4. Out of the ordinary; curious.
    It was very singular; I don't know why he did it.
    • Denham
      So singular a sadness / Must have a cause as strange as the effect.
    • Milton
      His zeal / None seconded, as out of season judged, / Or singular and rash.
  5. (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.
  6. (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.
  7. (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
  8. (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own cofinality.
  9. (law) Each; individual.
    to convey several parcels of land, all and singular
  10. (obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
    • Holinshed
      to try the matter thus together in a singular combat

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

singular (plural singulars)

  1. (grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.

Antonyms

  • (grammar: form of a word that refers to only one thing): plural

Related terms

Translations

See also

Anagrams


Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singulāris.

Adjective

singular m, f (masculine and feminine plural singulars)

  1. singular

Antonyms

Derived terms

  • singularment

Related terms

  • singularitat
  • singularitzar

Galician

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singulāris.

Adjective

singular m, f (plural singulares)

  1. singular

Portuguese

Adjective

singular m, f (plural singulares, comparable)

  1. singular (being the only one of a kind)
  2. (grammar) singular (referring to only one thing)

Synonyms

Noun

singular m (plural singulares)

  1. (grammar) singular (form of a word that refers to only one thing)

Serbo-Croatian

Noun

sȉngulār m (Cyrillic spelling си̏нгула̄р)

  1. singular

Declension

Synonyms


Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singulāris.

Adjective

singular m, f (plural singulares)

  1. singular
  2. odd, peculiar

Antonyms

Derived terms

Noun

singular m (plural singulares)

  1. singular