3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Singular  \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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Singular  \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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  singular 
  adj  1:  unusual  or  striking;  "a  remarkable  sight";  "such  poise  is 
  singular  in  one  so  young"  [syn:  {remarkable}] 
  2:  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"  [syn:  {curious},  {funny},  {odd},  {peculiar},  {queer}, 
  {rum},  {rummy}] 
  3:  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 
  4:  grammatical  number  category  referring  to  a  single  item  or 
  unit  [ant:  {plural}] 
  5:  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"  [syn:  {unique}] 
  n  :  the  form  of  a  word  that  is  used  to  denote  a  singleton  [syn: 
  {singular  form}]  [ant:  {plural}] 

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