Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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.