singular

Word family

Related topics: Grammar

sin·gu·lar1 /ˈsɪŋɡjələ $ -ər/ adjectiveadj

1 SLGa singular noun, verb, form etc is used when writing or speaking about one person or thing 〔名词、动词等〕单数的 → plural

the singular form of the noun

该名词的单数形式

If the subject is singular, use a singular verb.

如果主语是单数，就用单数动词。

2 [usually before noun] formalVERY very great or very noticeable 卓越的；非凡的；突出的

He showed a singular lack of tact in the way he handled the situation.

他处理这局面的方式显得极不得体。

a singular achievement

非凡的成就

3 literaryUNUSUAL very unusual or strange 异常的；奇异的

I wondered why she was behaving in so singular a fashion.

我真奇怪她为什么会有如此异常的行为。

Examples from the Corpus

singular• A singular boundary point q can then be classified according to this scheme.• We saw another singular item on the list of objects for sale: Napoleon's reading glasses.• She wished she could fulfil her search for this singular man from her bed, by the power of her mind alone.• The singular objective of this partnership is to improve the company's safety performance.• This singular passion did not long remain concealed from the Goddess of Passionate Love.• Enya's music possesses a singular sense of vision and originality.• And damn him for daring to pry into my affairs and for subtly mocking my singular state!• No explanation or suggestions accompanied this rather singular statement.• What this condition of the theatre indicates is that the establishing of a singular text for many plays is extremely difficult.• It is an honest, remarkable and singular thing in itself.

singular form• Autogena is not the first artist to be attracted by their singular form.• Plurals and singulars All nouns have a plural and a singular form.• Yet one had to admit that the divine selection could take singular forms.• It may seem petty to distinguish between the plural and singular form, and therefore unnecessary to include both in the index.• Strange Singulars Sometimes the plural or singular form of a noun is so rarely used that people forget what it is.• But after escaping to join another gang, Devi carried out a singular form of retribution.

singular lack• Even this singular lack of results did not undermine him.• Congress, at least publicly, exhibited a singular lack of understanding of the causes and nature of the Seminole War.

singular2 noun

the singular SLGthe form of a word used when writing or speaking about one person or thing 〔词的〕单数形式 → plural

‘Datum’ is the singular of ‘data’.

是 data 的单数形式。

in the singular

Should the verb be in the singular or the plural?

这个动词应该用单数形式还是复数形式？

Examples from the Corpus

in the singular• If we were asked, now, to define civilization in the singular, we should certainly be more hesitant.• This being so, civilization in the singular has lost some of its cachet.• The term transnational capitalist class is used interchangeably in the singular and the plural.

Examples from the Corpus

singular• For a long time yet, the word civilization will continue to be used in both singular and plural.• If we were asked, now, to define civilization in the singular, we should certainly be more hesitant.• The universal, the totality, can only be known through the singular.• Note that criteria, data and dicta are plural words: the singulars are criterion, datum and dictum.

Origin singular1

(1300-1400) Old French singuler, from Latin singularis, from singulus; → SINGLE1

sin·gu·lar1 adjectiveadjsingular2 noun

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus