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singular |
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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