singular

adj

1. 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.”

2. 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.”

   “singular instances”

   “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.

   “a man of singular gravity or attainments”

4. 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: […]”

   “His zeal / None seconded, as out of season judged, / Or singular and rash.”

5. Referring to only one thing or person.
6. Having no inverse.
7. Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
8. Not equal to its own cofinality.
9. Each; individual.

   “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.”

10. (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 combat”

noun

1. A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.
2. That which is not general; a specific determinate instance.