I. ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər adjective
Etymology: Middle English singuler, from Anglo-French, from Latin singularis, from singulus only one — more at single
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : of or relating to a separate person or thing : individual
b. : of, relating to, or being a word form denoting one person, thing, or instance
a singular noun
c. : of or relating to a single instance or to something considered by itself
2. : distinguished by superiority : exceptional
an artist of singular attainments
3. : being out of the ordinary : unusual
on the way home we had a singular adventure
4. : departing from general usage or expectation : peculiar , odd
the air had a singular chill
5.
a. of a matrix : having a determinant equal to zero
b. of a linear transformation : having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero
Synonyms: see strange
• sin·gu·lar·ly adverb
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1. : the singular number, the inflectional form denoting it, or a word in that form
2. : a singular term