single-lunged 
cally noting the genus Ceratodus, or the Mono- 
jmcumiini x. 
Single-minded (sing'gl-min"ded), a. [< single^ 
+ mi lull + -ed 2 .] 1 . Having a single or honest 
mind or heart ; free from duplicity ; ingenuous ; 
guileless. 
An unpretending, single-minded, artless girl infinitely 
to be preferred by any man of sense and taste to such a 
woman as Mrs. Elton. Jane Austen, Emma, xxxviii. 
The single-minded religious enthusiast, incapable of 
dissimulation or procrastination. 
Lecky, Europ. Morals, I. 42. 
2. Having but one object or end in view; un- 
swerving; undeviating. 
No democratic ideas distracted its single-minded loy- 
alty. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., II. 458. 
single-mindedness (sing'gl-min"ded-nes), 11. 
The character or state of being single-minded. 
Practical morality means singlemindedness, the having 
one idea ; it means what in other spheres would be the 
greatest narrowness. 
F. II. Bradley, Ethical Studies, p. 179, note. 
singleness (sing'gl-nes), . The state or char- 
acter of being single, in any sense of the word. 
singleret, [ME. synglere, < OF. sengler, sain- 
r/ler, sanglier, F. sanglfer, a wild boar: see san- 
glier.] A wild boar. 
Boyes in the subarbis bourdene ffulle heghe, 
At a bare synglere that to the bente rynnys. 
Morte Arthure (E. E. T. S.), 1. 3123. 
single-SOled (sing'gl-spld), . [< single* + sole 1 
+ -erf 2 .] Having a single sole; hence, poor; 
poverty-stricken. In the quotation from Shakspere a 
pun is intended, turning on the double meanings of single 
(simple, foolish) and smiled. 
Gentilhome de has relief. A thred-bare or single-soled 
gentleman, a gentleman of low degree. 
Cotgrave (under relief). 
Her. Follow me this jest now till thou hast worn out 
thy pump, that, when the single sole of it is worn, the jest 
may remain after the wearing sole singular. 
Rom. O single-soled jest, solely singular for the single- 
ness ! Shot., E. and J., ii. 4. 69. 
single-stick (sing'gl-stik), n. 1. A cudgel for 
use with one hand, as distinguished from the 
quarter-staff. It is usually fitted with a guard 
for the hand, somewhat like that of a saber. 
Compare back-sword. 2. The play or practice 
with such cudgels; the art of attack and de- 
fense with them: as, to learn single-stick. 3. 
A wooden sword used on board ship for teach- 
ing the use of the cutlas. 
singlet (sing'glet), n. [< single 1 + -et* ; appar. 
formed in imitation of doublet.'] 1. An un- 
lined waistcoat: opposed to a doublet, which is 
lined. Halliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 2. An under- 
shirt or undervest. 
This word was singlet, which came up to me printed on 
my first washing bill in Liverpool. I had never seen it 
before; but its suggestion of doublet of course showed 
me that it must mean an undervest, as it did a merino 
under-shirt. ... It is a Lancashire word ; ... it is not 
dialectical, which being Eomanic it could not be. 
Ji. 0. White, England Without and Within, p. 384. 
single-taxism (sing'gl-taks'izm), n. [< single* 
-t- tax + -ism.] The doctrines or beliefs of the 
advocates of the single tax. See tax. [Re- 
cent.] 
The fourth section of the Knights of Labor declaration 
of principles, as last amended, is good enough single tax- 
ism for the present. The Standard (New York), VII. 9. 
singlethorn (sing'gl-thorn), . A Japanese 
fish, Monocentris japonicus, of the family Bery- 
cidx, remarkable for the size of its head, its 
strong thorn-like spines, and its mailed suit of 
hard projecting scales. It is of a silvery- white 
color, and about 6 or 7 inches long. It is the 
only known species of the genus. 
singleton (sing'gl-ton), . [In def. 1 < single*, 
a., 11. foolish, + -ton (of. simpleton). In def. 2 < 
single^, a., 1, + -ton (after the preceding).] 1. 
A silly fellow ; a simpleton. Halliwell. [Prov. 
Eng.] 2. In whist, a hand containing only one 
card of some suit; a card which is the only one 
of a suit in the hand of a player. 
Outside the modern signalling system and the absolute 
rejection of the Singleton lead, there is very little differ- 
ence between the whist of to-day and the whist of Hoyle 
and Matthews. R. A. Proctor, How to Play Whist, Pref. 
single-touch (sing'gl-tuch), . A method of 
making artificial magnets. See magnet. 
singletree (sing'gl-tre), . Same as sicingle- 
tl'Cf. 
singlin (sing'glin), . [For 'singling, < single* 
+ -in/; 1 .] A handful of gleaned grain; a single 
gleaning. Srockett. [Prov. Eng.] 
singlings (sing'gliugz), . [< single 1 + -ing 1 .] 
In distilling, the crude spirit which is the first 
to come over. 
5647 
The singlings, or spirits of first extraction. 
S. Don-ell, Taxes in England, IV. -209. 
singlo (sing'glo), H. A sort of fine tea, con- 
sisting of large, flat leaves, not much rolled. 
Simmonds. 
Singly (sing'gli), adv. [< single* + -ly 2 .] 1. 
As a unit; as or in the form or capacity of one 
person or thing. 
The man I speak of cannot in the world 
Be singly counterpoised. Shak., Cor., ii. 2. 91. 
Those great acts . . . God had done 
Singly by me against their conquerors. 
Milton, S. A., 1.244. 
2. Individually; particularly; separately; one 
at a time. 
I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the 
inter'gatories : demand them singly. 
Shak., All's Well, iv. 3. 208. 
They tend to the perfection of human nature, and to 
make men singly and personally good. Tillutson, Sermons. 
3. Without aid or accompaniment; alone. 
But great Achilles mwfj/tlos'd the gate. 
Pope, Iliad, xxiv. 560. 
4f. Solely; uniquely; singularly. 
Thou singly honest man, 
Here, take : the gods out of my misery 
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy. 
Shak., T. of A.,iv. 3. 530. 
An edict singly unjust. Milton. (Todd.) 
5. Honestly; sincerely. Imp. Diet. 
sing-sing (sing'sing), M. [African.] A West 
Sing-sing Antelope (Kobits 
African kob antelope, Kobus sing-sing. See 
kob. 
singsong (sing'sdng), a. and n. [< sing, v. t + 
pbj. song.'] I. . 1. Making songs, rimes, or 
inferior poetry. 
From huffing Dryden to sing-song D'lTrfey. 
Tom Brown, Works, HI. 39. (Dames.) 
2. Monotonously rhythmical in cadence and 
time; chanting. 
Prayers were chanted in the nasal singsong way in 
which prayers are said here. 
C. E. Norton, Travel and Study in Italy, p. 46. 
II. n. 1. Verse intended or suitable for sing- 
ing; a ballad; hence, bad verse; mere rime 
rather than poetry. 
This sing-song was made on the English by the Scots, 
after they were flushed with victory over us in the reign of 
King Edward the Second. 
Fuller, Worthies, Berkshire, 1. 119. 
I ne'er with wits or witlings pass'd my days, 
To spread about the itch of verse and praise ; 
Nor, like a puppy, daggled through the town, 
To fetch and carry sing-song up and down. 
Pope, Prol. to Satires, L 226. 
2. A monotonous rhythmical cadence, sound, 
or tone; a wearying uniformity in the rising 
and falling inflections of the voice, especially 
in speaking. 
A skilled lover of music, he [Collins] rose from the gen- 
eral sing-song of his generation to a harmony that had 
been silent since Milton. Lowell, Study Windows, p. 387. 
3. A convivial meeting, at which every person 
is expected to contribute a song. [Colloq.] 
The illustrated programmeof the forthcoming Sing-song, 
whereof he was not a little proud. 
R. Kipling, Only a Subaltern. 
singsong (sing'song), v. [< singsong, .] I. 
intrans. To make songs or verses; also, to 
make singsong sounds; utter a monotonous 
chant. 
There 's no glory 
Like his who saves his country, and you sit 
Sing-songing here ; but, if I'm any judge, 
By God, you are as poor a poet, Wyatt, 
As a good soldier. Tennyson, Queen Mary, ii. 1. 
singular 
II. trans. To express or utter in singsong. 
The chorus chattered and singsonged their satisfaction. 
Harper's Mag., LXXVI. 588. 
singspiel (sing'spel), . [G., < singen, sing, + 
spid, play: see sing and spelfi.] A semidra- 
matic work or performance in which a series of 
incidents are related or represented in song. 
The form is almost entirely confined to Germany, where it 
was the precursor of the opera. Its peculiarity lies in the 
strict subordination of the instrumental accompaniments 
to the vocal parts. Originally it included both solo songs 
and spoken dialogue ; but duets and part-songs gradually 
came in, and the amount of dialogue was steadily reduced. 
Compare miracle, 4, mystery!, 4, etc. 
singstert (sing'ster), . [< ME. singstere, a 
female singer; < sing + -ster. Cf. songster.] 
A female who sings ; a songstress. Wyclif. 
singular (sing'gu-lar), a. and n. [Early mod. 
E. also singuler; < ME. singuler, synguler, singu- 
lar, singulars, < OF. (and F.) singulier = Pr. Sp. 
Pg. singular, singlere = It. sirigolare, < L. shujii- 
laris, single, separate (in gram, singularis nu- 
merus, translating Gr. {vinos api6p6f), < singuli, 
onebyone: seesingle 1 .] I. a. 1. Beingaunit, 
or one only; single. 
God forbede that al a companye 
Sholde rewe a singuler mannes folye. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Canon's Yeoman's Tale, 1. 444. 
Their manner was to grant naturalization, . . . and this 
not to singular persons alone, but likewise to whole fam- 
ilies. 
Bacon, True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates (ed. 1887). 
2. Separate or apart from others ; alone. [Ob- 
solete or provincial.] 
And whenne he was singuler, or by hym silf, the twelue, 
that weren with hym, axiden hym for to expowne the 
parable. Wyclif, Mark iv. 10. 
It may be said, what profit can redound, what commen- 
dation, what reward, for one man to be singular against 
many? Ford, Line of Life. 
3f. Pertaining to solitude, or separation from 
others; concerned with or involving solitude. 
When I had takene my syngulere purpos [of becoming 
a hermit], and lefte the seculere habyte, ... I be-gane 
mare to serue God than mane. 
Hampole, Prose Treatises (E. E. T. S.), p. 5. 
Though naturally a monk must love retiredness, yet a 
single monk, a monk always alone, says he [Aquinas], is 
plotting some singular mischief. bonne, Sermons, v. 
4. Pertaining to one person or thing; indi- 
vidual ; also, pertaining to individual persons 
or things; in logic, not general; being only in 
one place at one time. 
There be that write how the offer was made by King 
Edmond, for the auoiding of more bloudshed, that the two 
princes should trie the matter thus togither in a singular 
combat. Holinshed, Hist. Eng., vii. 10. (Richardson.) 
This is (ye will perchaunce say) my singular opinion : 
then ye shall see how well I can maintaine it. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 101. 
That idea which represents one particular determinate 
thing to me is called a singular idea, whether it be simple, 
or complex, or compound. Watts, Logic, I. iii. 3. 
5. In gram., denoting or relating to one person 
or thing: as, the singular number: opposed to 
dual and plural. Abbreviated sing. 6. Hav- 
ing no duplicate or parallel ; unmatched ; un- 
exampled; unique; being the only one of its 
kind. 
Some villain, ay, and singular in his art, 
Hath done you both this cursed injury. 
Shak., Cymbeline, iii. 4. 124. 
The small chapel is lined with a composition which is 
an imitation of the pietre comesse of Florence; it is per* 
fectly singular, and very beautiful. 
Pocoete, Description of the East, II. ii. 214. 
We are met to exchange congratulations on the anni- 
versary of an event singular in the history of civilization. 
Emerson, West Indian Emancipation. 
7. Out of the usual course ; unusual ; uncom- 
mon; somewhat strange; a little extraordi- 
nary: as, a singular phenomenon. 
One urgeth death, . . . 
The other bonds, and those perpetual, which 
He thinks found out for the more singular plague. 
B. Jonson, Catiline, v. 6. 
So singular a sadness 
Must have a cause as strange as the effect. 
Venham, The Sophy. 
Strange life mine rather curious history not extra- 
ordinary, but singular. Dickens, Pickwick, ii. 
Hence 8. Of more than average value, worth, 
importance, or eminence; remarkable; fine; 
choice ; precious ; highly esteemed. 
These reverend fathers ; men 
Of singular integrity and learning. 
Shak., Hen. VIII., ii. 4. 59. 
I acknowledge all your favours 
Boundless and singular. 
Ford, Perkin Warbeck, iv. 3. 
9. Not complying with common usage or ex- 
pectation; hence, eccentric ; peculiar; odd: as, 
he was very singular in his behavior. 
