Definitions for: Singular


[n] the form of a word that is used to denote a singleton
[adj] being a single and separate person or thing; "can the singular person be understood apart from his culture?"; "every fact in the world might be singular...unlike any other fact and sole of its kind"-William James
[adj] beyond or deviating from the usual or expected; "a curious hybrid accent"; "her speech has a funny twang"; "they have some funny ideas about war"; "had an odd name"; "the peculiar aromatic odor of cloves"; "something definitely queer about this town"; "what a rum fellow"; "singular behavior"
[adj] unusual or striking; "a remarkable sight"; "such poise is singular in one so young"
[adj] grammatical number category referring to a single item or unit
[adj] the single one of its kind; "a singular example"; "the unique existing example of Donne's handwriting"; "a unique copy of an ancient manuscript"; "certain types of problems have unique solutions"



Webster (1913) Definition: Sin"gu*lar, a. [OE. singuler, F. singulier, fr. L.
singularius, singularis, fr. singulus single. See Single,
a.]
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 consure.

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, n.
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.

Synonyms: curious, extraordinary, funny, individual, odd, peculiar, queer, remarkable, rum, rummy, single(a), singular form, strange, unique, unusual

Antonyms: plural, plural, plural form

See Also: form, signifier, word form

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