Being only one of a larger population; single, individual.
A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.
And God forbid that all a company / Should rue a singular manne's folly.1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; Charles Cowden Clarke, editor, The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer. […], 2nd edition, volume III, Edinburgh: James Nichol; London: James Nisbet & Co.; Dublin: W. Robertson, 1860, →OCLC, page 158:
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Being the only one of the kind; unique.
She has a singular personality.
The busts[…] of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
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singular instances1620, Francis Bacon, Novum Organum:
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.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:
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Distinguished by superiority: peerless, unmatched, eminent, exceptional, extraordinary.
a man of singular gravity or attainments
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Out of the ordinary; curious.
It was very singular; I don't know why he did it.
So ſingular a ſadneſs / Muſt have a cauſe as ſtrange as the effect: […]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:
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His zeal / None seconded, as out of season judged, / Or singular and rash.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:
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Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Referring to only one thing or person.
Linear algebra, Mathematics, SciencesOf transformation Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
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Mathematics, Sciences, Set theoryOf a cardinal number Not equal to its own cofinality.
to convey several parcels of land, all and singular
Cel[adon]. […] Hovv do Meliſſa’s tvvo fair Daughters? / Aſt[eria]. VVhen you tell me vvhich of ’em you are in love vvith, I’le anſvver you. / Cel. VVhich of ’em, naughty ſiſter, vvhat a question’s there? VVith both of ’em, vvith each and singular of ’em.1667 March 12 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), John Dryden, Secret-Love, or The Maiden-Queen: […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], published 1668, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:
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Obsolete Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
Thus made he an end, and the two princes allowed well of his last motion, and so order was taken, that they should fight togither in a singular combat1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC: