singular

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See also: Singular, singulár, and singulär

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English singuler, from Old French, from Latin singulāris (alone of its kind), from Latin singulus (single).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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singular (comparative more singular, superlative most singular)

  1. Being only one of a larger population; single, individual.
    Synonyms: individual; see also Thesaurus:specific
    Antonyms: general; see also Thesaurus:generic
    A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.
  2. Being the only one of the kind; unique.
    Synonyms: unique; see also Thesaurus:unique
    She has a singular personality.
    • 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: [] Jacob Tonson, [], →OCLC:
      The busts [] of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.
    • 1620, Francis Bacon, Novum Organum:
      singular instances
    • 1839, Charles Darwin, Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the Years 1826 and 1836, [], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, [], →OCLC, pages 461–462:
      A group of finches, of which Mr. Gould considers there are thirteen species; and these he has distributed into for new sub-genera. These birds are the most singular of any in the archipelago.
  3. Distinguished by superiority: peerless, unmatched, eminent, exceptional, extraordinary.
    Synonyms: exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable
    a man of singular gravity or attainments
  4. Out of the ordinary; curious.
    Synonyms: curious, eccentric, funny, odd, peculiar, rum, rummy, strange, unusual; see also Thesaurus:strange
    It was very singular; I don't know why he did it.
    • 1641 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. [], 2nd edition, London: [] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, [], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 11:
      So ſingular a ſadneſs / Muſt have a cauſe as ſtrange as the effect: []
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. [], London: [] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker []; [a]nd by Robert Boulter []; [a]nd Matthias Walker, [], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: [], London: Basil Montagu Pickering [], 1873, →OCLC:
      His zeal / None seconded, as out of season judged, / Or singular and rash.
  5. (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.
    Antonym: plural
  6. (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.
    Synonym: non-invertible
    Antonyms: invertible, non-singular
  7. (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
  8. (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own cofinality.
  9. (law) Each; individual.
    to convey several parcels of land, all and singular
  10. (obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun

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singular (plural singulars)

  1. (grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.
    Antonym: plural
  2. (logic) That which is not general; a specific determinate instance.

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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Catalan

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin singulāris. Doublet of senglar.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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singular m or f (masculine and feminine plural singulars)

  1. singular
    Antonym: plural

Derived terms

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Noun

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singular m (plural singulars)

  1. (grammar) singular

Galician

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Etymology

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Learned borrowing from Latin singulāris.

Adjective

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singular m or f (plural singulares)

  1. (grammar) singular
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Further reading

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Portuguese

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Etymology

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Learned borrowing from Latin singulāris. Doublet of senheiro.

Pronunciation

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  • Hyphenation: sin‧gu‧lar

Adjective

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singular m or f (plural singulares)

  1. singular (being the only one of a kind)
    Synonym: único
  2. (grammar) singular (referring to only one thing)
    Antonym: plural

Derived terms

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Noun

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singular m (plural singulares)

  1. (grammar) singular (form of a word that refers to only one thing)
    Antonym: plural

Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin singularis or French singulier.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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singular m or n (feminine singular singulară, masculine plural singulari, feminine and neuter plural singulare)

  1. (grammar) singular

Declension

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Serbo-Croatian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin singulāris.

Noun

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sȉngulār m (Cyrillic spelling си̏нгула̄р)

  1. singular
    Synonym: jednìna

Declension

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Spanish

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin singulāris. Doublet of señero.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /sinɡuˈlaɾ/ [sĩŋ.ɡuˈlaɾ]
  • Audio (Colombia):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɾ
  • Syllabification: sin‧gu‧lar

Adjective

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singular m or f (masculine and feminine plural singulares)

  1. singular
    Antonym: plural
  2. odd, peculiar
    Synonyms: raro, peculiar

Derived terms

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Noun

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singular m (plural singulares)

  1. singular
    Antonym: plural

Further reading

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