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.
Sin"gu*lar (s&ibreve;&nsm;"g&usl;*l&etilde;r),
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 censure.
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.
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