singularとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From 中期英語 singuler, from Old French, from Latin singulāris (“alone of its kind”), from Latin singulus (“single”).

発音

• (General American) enPR: sĭng'-gyə-lər, IPA: /ˈsɪŋ.ɡjə.lɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: sĭng'-gyo͝o-lə, IPA: /ˈsɪŋ.ɡjʊ.lə/

形容詞

singular (comparative more singular, superlative most singular)

1. Being only one of a larger population; single, individual.

   Synonyms: individual; see also Thesaurus:specific

   Antonyms: general; see also Thesaurus:generic

   A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.

   • 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:

     And God forbid that all a company / Should rue a singular manne's folly.

     And may God forbid that a whole group should suffer for a single man's folly.

2. Being the only one of the kind; unique.

   Synonyms: unique; see also Thesaurus:unique

   She has a singular personality.

   • 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

     The busts […] of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.

   • 1620, Francis Bacon, Novum Organum:

     singular instances

   • 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:

     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.

   Synonyms: exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable

   a man of singular gravity or attainments

4. Out of the ordinary; curious.

   Synonyms: curious, eccentric, funny, odd, peculiar, rum, rummy, strange, unusual; see also Thesaurus:strange

   It was very singular; I don't know why he did it.

   • 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:

     So ſingular a ſadneſs / Muſt have a cauſe as ſtrange as the effect: […]

   • 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:

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

5. (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.

   Antonym: plural

6. (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.

   Synonym: non-invertible

   Antonyms: invertible, non-singular

7. (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
8. (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own cofinality.
9. (chiefly law) Each; individual.

   to convey several parcels of land, all and singular

   • 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:

     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.
    • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC:

      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

派生語

名詞

singular (plural singulars)

1. (grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.

   Antonym: plural

2. (logic) That which is not general; a specific determinate instance.

派生語

• singulare tantum

関連する語

• plural

参考

• (grammatical numbers) grammatical number; singular, dual, trial, quadral, quintal, paucal, plural

Further reading

• “singular”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “singular”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• “singular”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

アナグラム

• rail guns, railguns