Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SINGULARITY

n. 1. Peculiarity; some character or quality of a thing by which it is distinguished from all, or from most others. Pliny addeth this singularity to that soil, that the second year the very falling of the seeds yieldeth corn.
2. An uncommon character or form; something curious or remarkable. I took notice of this little figure for the singularity of the instrument.
3. Particular privilege, prerogative or distinction. No bishop of Rome ever took upon him this name of singularity, (universal bishop. ) Catholicism-must be understood in opposition to the legal singularity of the Jewish nation.
4. Character or trait of character different from that of others; peculiarity. The singularity of living according to the strict precepts of the gospel is highly to be commended.
5. Oddity.
6. Celibacy. [Not in use. ]

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

SINGULARITY

Sin `gu *lar "i *ty, n.; pl. Singularities. Etym: [L. singularitas: cf. F. singularité. ]

 

1. The quality or state of being singular; some character or quality of a thing by which it is distinguished from all, or from most, others; peculiarity. Pliny addeth this singularity to that soil, that the second year the very falling down of the seeds yieldeth corn. Sir. W. Raleigh. I took notice of this little figure for the singularity of the instrument. Addison.

 

2. Anything singular, rare, or curious. Your gallery Have we passed through, not without much content In many singularities. Shak.

 

3. Possession of a particular or exclusive privilege, prerogative, or distinction. No bishop of Rome ever took upon him this name of singularity [universal bishop ]. Hooker. Catholicism. .. must be understood in opposition to the legal singularity of the Jewish nation. Bp. Pearson.

 

4. Celibacy. [Obs. ] Jer. Taylor.

 

New American Oxford Dictionary

singularity

sin gu lar i ty |ˌsiNGgyəˈlaritē ˌsɪŋɡjəˈlɛrədi | ▶noun ( pl. singularities ) 1 the state, fact, quality, or condition of being singular: he believed in the singularity of all cultures. • a peculiarity or odd trait. 2 Physics & Mathematics a point at which a function takes an infinite value, esp. in space-time when matter is infinitely dense, as at the center of a black hole. ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French singularite, from late Latin singularitas, from singularis ‘unique ’ (see singular ).

 

Oxford Dictionary

singularity

sin ¦gu ¦lar |ity |sɪŋgjʊˈlarɪti | ▶noun ( pl. singularities ) 1 [ mass noun ] the state, fact, quality, or condition of being singular: he believed in the singularity of all cultures. • [ count noun ] a peculiarity or odd trait. 2 Physics & Mathematics a point at which a function takes an infinite value, especially in space –time when matter is infinitely dense, such as at the centre of a black hole. ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French singularite, from late Latin singularitas, from singularis ‘alone (of its kind )’ (see singular ).

 

American Oxford Thesaurus

singularity

singularity noun 1 the singularity of their concerns: uniqueness, distinctiveness. 2 his singularities: idiosyncrasy, quirk, foible, peculiarity, oddity, eccentricity.

 

Oxford Thesaurus

singularity

singularity noun 1 the anthology communicates both the singularity and the universality of women's deepest concerns: uniqueness, distinctiveness, difference, individuality, particularity. 2 his psychological singularities: idiosyncrasy, quirk, trait, foible, peculiarity, oddity, eccentricity, abnormality.

 

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

singularity

sin gu lar i ty /sɪ̀ŋɡjəlǽrəti /名詞 複 -ties 1 C ｟かたく ｠奇異 [風変わり ]な物 [事 ]; 特異性 ; (一連の )奇妙な出来事 .2 ＝black hole (1 ).3 U ｟かたく やや古 ｠奇妙さ, 風変わり ; 異常 (なこと ); 非凡 .4 U 単一, 単独 .