I. sin ‧ gu ‧ lar 1 /ˈsɪŋɡjələ, ˈsɪŋɡjʊlə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ single , singles, ↑ singleness , the singular, ↑ singularity ; adverb : ↑ singly , ↑ singularly ; adjective : ↑ single , ↑ singular ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: singuler , from Latin singularis , from singulus ; ⇨ ↑ single 1 ]
1 . a singular noun, verb, form etc is used when writing or speaking about one person or thing ⇨ plural :
the singular form of the noun
If the subject is singular, use a singular verb.
2 . [usually before noun] formal very great or very noticeable:
He showed a singular lack of tact in the way he handled the situation.
a singular achievement
3 . literary very unusual or strange:
I wondered why she was behaving in so singular a fashion.
II. singular 2 BrE AmE noun
the singular the form of a word used when writing or speaking about one person or thing ⇨ plural :
‘Datum’ is the singular of ‘data’.
in the singular
Should the verb be in the singular or the plural?