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
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
; – opposed to singular
numberdual
and plural
. 6.
Standing by itself; out of the ordinary course; unusual; uncommon; strange;
as, a
. singular
phenomenonSo
Must have a cause as strange as the effect.
singular
a sadnessMust 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 attainments8.
Departing from general usage or expectations; odd; whimsical; – often implying disapproval or censure.
His zeal
None seconded, as out of season judged,
Or
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.
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.
Definition 2024
Singular
singular
singular
English
Alternative forms
- (abbreviation): sg.
Adjective
singular (comparative more singular, superlative most singular)
- Being only one of a larger population.
- A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.
- 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?)
- Distinguished by superiority; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional.
- a man of singular gravity or attainments
- 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.
- (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.
- (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.
- (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
- (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own cofinality.
- (law) Each; individual.
- to convey several parcels of land, all and singular
- (obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
- Holinshed
- to try the matter thus together in a singular combat
- Holinshed
Synonyms
- (being only one): individual
- (being the only one of a kind): unique
- (distinguished by superiority): exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable
- (being out of the ordinary): curious, eccentric, funny, odd, peculiar, strange, rum, rummy, unusual
- (linear algebra: of matrix: having no inverse): non-invertible
Antonyms
- (grammar: referring to only one thing): plural
- (linear algebra: of matrix: having no inverse): invertible, non-singular
Derived terms
Translations
being only one of larger population
being the only one of a kind
distinguished by superiority
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being out of the ordinary
grammar: referring to only one thing
|
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linear algebra: of matrix: having no inverse
linear algebra: of transformation
|
Noun
singular (plural singulars)
- (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
grammar: form of a word that refers to only one thing
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See also
- (grammatical numbers) grammatical number; singular, dual, trial, quadral, paucal, plural (Category: en:Grammar)
- simplex
- simple
- single
- singulus
Anagrams
Catalan
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin singulāris.
Adjective
singular m, f (masculine and feminine plural singulars)
Antonyms
Derived terms
- singularment
Related terms
- singularitat
- singularitzar
Portuguese
Adjective
singular m, f (plural singulares, comparable)
Synonyms
- (one of a kind): único
Noun
singular m (plural singulares)
Serbo-Croatian
Noun
sȉngulār m (Cyrillic spelling си̏нгула̄р)
Declension
Declension of singular
Synonyms
Spanish
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin singulāris.
Adjective
singular m, f (plural singulares)
Antonyms
- (singular): plural
Derived terms
Noun
singular m (plural singulares)