Sin·gu·lar a.
1. Separate or apart from others; single; distinct. [Obs.]
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.