Chapter 1553

Sing"ing*ly , adv. With sounds like singing; with a kind of tune; in a singing tone.

G. North (1575).

Single <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle (?) , a. [L. singulus , a dim. from the root in simplex simple; cf. OE. & OF. sengle , fr. L. singulus . See Simple , and cf. Singular .] 1. One only, as distinguished from more than one; consisting of one alone; individual; separate; as, a single star .

No single man is born with a right of controlling the opinions of all the rest. Pope.

2. Alone; having no companion.

Who single hast maintained, Against revolted multitudes, the cause Of truth. Milton.

3. Hence, unmarried; as, a single man or woman .

Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. Shak.

Single chose to live, and shunned to wed. Dryden.

4. Not doubled, twisted together, or combined with others; as, a single thread; a single strand of a rope .

5. Performed by one person, or one on each side; as, a single combat .

These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, . . . Who now defles thee thrice ti single fight. Milton.

6. Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.

Simple ideas are opposed to complex, and single to compound. I. Watts.

7. Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere.

I speak it with a single heart. Shak.

8. Simple; not wise; weak; silly. [Obs.]

He utters such single matter in so infantly a voice. Beau & Fl.

Single ale , beer , &or; drink , small ale, etc., as contrasted with double ale , etc., which is stronger. [Obs.] Nares. -- Single bill (Law) , a written engagement, generally under seal, for the payment of money, without a penalty. Burril . -- Single court (Lawn Tennis) , a court laid out for only two players. -- Single-cut file . See the Note under 4th File . -- Single entry . See under Bookkeeping . -- Single file . See under 1st File . -- Single flower (Bot.) , a flower with but one set of petals, as a wild rose. -- Single knot . See Illust . under Knot . -- Single whip (Naut.) , a single rope running through a fixed block.

Single <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Singled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Singling (?) .] 1. To select, as an individual person or thing, from among a number; to choose out from others; to separate.

Dogs who hereby can single out their master in the dark. Bacon.

His blood! she faintly screamed her mind Still singling one from all mankind. More.

2. To sequester; to withdraw; to retire. [Obs.]

An agent singling itself from consorts. Hooker.

3. To take alone, or one by one.

Men . . . commendable when they are singled . Hooker.

Single <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle , v. i. To take the irrregular gait called single-foot;- said of a horse. See Single-foot .

Many very fleet horses, when overdriven, adopt a disagreeable gait, which seems to be a cross between a pace and a trot, in which the two legs of one side are raised almost but not quite, simultaneously. Such horses are said to single , or to be single-footed. W. S. Clark.

Single <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle , n. 1. A unit; one; as, to score a single .

2. pl. The reeled filaments of silk, twisted without doubling to give them firmness.

3. A handful of gleaned grain. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

4. (Law Tennis) A game with but one player on each side; -- usually in the plural.

5. (Baseball) A hit by a batter which enables him to reach first base only.

Single-acting <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle-act`ing (?) , a. Having simplicity of action; especially (Mach.) , acting or exerting force during strokes in one direction only; -- said of a reciprocating engine, pump, etc.

Single-breasted <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle-breast`ed (?) , a. Lapping over the breast only far enough to permit of buttoning, and having buttons on one edge only; as, a single-breasted coast .

Single-foot <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle-foot` (?) , n. An irregular gait of a horse; -- called also single-footed pace . See Single , v. i.

Single-foot is an irregular pace, rather rare, distinguished by the posterior extremities moving in the order of a fast walk, and the anterior extremities in that of a slow trot. Stillman (The Horse in Motion.)

Single-handed <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle-hand"ed (?) , a. Having but one hand, or one workman; also, alone; unassisted.

<-- single-handedly, adv. by oneself, alone, unassisted. -->

Single-hearted <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle-heart"ed (?) , a. Having an honest heart; free from duplicity. -- Sin"gle-heart"ed*ly , adv.

Single-minded <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle-mind"ed (?) , a. Having a single purpose; hence, artless; guileless; single-hearted.

Singleness <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle*ness , n. 1. The quality or state of being single, or separate from all others; the opposite of doubleness, complication, or multiplicity.

2. Freedom from duplicity, or secondary and selfish ends; purity of mind or purpose; simplicity; sincerity; as, singleness of purpose; singleness of heart .

Singles <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gles (?) , n. pl. See Single , n. , 2.

Singlestick <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle*stick` (?) , n. (a) In England and Scotland, a cudgel used in fencing or fighting; a backsword. (b) The game played with singlesticks, in which he who first brings blood from his adversary's head is pronounced victor; backsword; cudgeling.

Singlet <Xpage=1344>

Sin"glet (?) , n. An unlined or undyed waistcoat; a single garment; -- opposed to doublet . [Prov. Eng.]

Singleton <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle*ton (?) , n. In certain games at cards, as whist, a single card of any suit held at the deal by a player; as, to lead a singleton .

Singletree <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gle*tree` (?) , n. [Cf. Swingletree .] The pivoted or swinging bar to which the traces of a harnessed horse are fixed; a whiffletree.

&hand; When two horses draw abreast, a singletree is fixed at each end of another crosspiece, called the doubletree .

Singly <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gly (?) , adv. 1. Individually; particularly; severally; as, to make men singly and personally good .

2. Only; by one's self; alone.

Look thee, 't is so! Thou singly honest man. Shak.

3. Without partners, companions, or associates; single-handed; as, to attack another singly .

At omber singly to decide their doom. Pope.

4. Honestly; sincerely; simply. [R.]

Johnson.

5. Singularly; peculiarly. [Obs.]

Milton.

Sing-sing <Xpage=1344>

Sing"-sing` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The kob.

Singsong <Xpage=1344>

Sing"song` (?) , n. 1. Bad singing or poetry.

2. A drawling or monotonous tone, as of a badly executed song.

Singsong <Xpage=1344>

Sing"song` , a. Drawling; monotonous.

Singsong <Xpage=1344>

Sing"song` , v. i. To write poor poetry. [R.]

Tennyson.

Singster <Xpage=1344>

Sing"ster (?) , n. A songstress. [Obs.]

Wyclif.

Singular <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gu*lar (?) , a. [OE. singuler , F. singulier , fr. L. singularius , singularis , fr. singulus single. See Single , a. ] 1. Separate or apart from others; single; distinct. [Obs.]

Bacon.

And God forbid that all a company Should rue a singular man's folly. Chaucer.

2. Engaged in by only one on a side; single. [Obs.]

To try the matter thus together in a singular combat. Holinshed.

3. (Logic) Existing by itself; single; individual.

The idea which represents one . . . determinate thing, is called a singular idea, whether simple, complex, or compound. I. Watts.

4. (Law) Each; individual; as, to convey several parcels of land, all and singular .

5. (Gram.) Denoting one person or thing; as, the singular number ; -- opposed to dual and plural .

6. Standing by itself; out of the ordinary course; unusual; uncommon; strange; as, a singular phenomenon .

So singular a sadness Must have a cause as strange as the effect. Denham.

7. Distinguished as existing in a very high degree; rarely equaled; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional; as, a man of singular gravity or attainments .

8. Departing from general usage or expectations; odd; whimsical; -- often implying disapproval or consure.

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

To be singular in anything that is wise and worthy, is not a disparagement, but a praise. Tillotson.

9. Being alone; belonging to, or being, that of which there is but one; unique.

These busts of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind. Addison.

Singular point in a curve (Math.) , a point at which the curve possesses some peculiar properties not possessed by other points of the curve, as a cusp point, or a multiple point. -- Singular proposition (Logic) , a proposition having as its subject a singular term, or a common term limited to an individual by means of a singular sign. Whately . -- Singular succession (Civil Law) , division among individual successors, as distinguished from universal succession , by which an estate descended in intestacy to the heirs in mass. -- Singular term (Logic) , a term which represents or stands for a single individual.

Syn. -- Unexampled; unprecedented; eminent; extraordinary; remarkable; uncommon; rare; unusual; peculiar; strange; odd; eccentric; fantastic.

Singular <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gu*lar , n. 1. An individual instance; a particular. [Obs.]

Dr. H. More.

2. (Gram) The singular number, or the number denoting one person or thing; a word in the singular number.

Singularist <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gu*lar*ist (?) , n. One who affects singularity. [Obs.]

A clownish singularist , or nonconformist to ordinary usage. Borrow.

Singularity <Xpage=1344>

Sin`gu*lar"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Singularities (#) . [L. singularitas : cf. F. singularit\'82 .] 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.

Singularize <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gu*lar*ize (?) , v. t. To make singular or single; to distinguish. [R.]

Singularly <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gu*lar*ly , adv. 1. In a singular manner; in a manner, or to a degree, not common to others; extraordinarily; as, to be singularly exact in one's statements; singularly considerate of others. " Singularly handsome."

Milman.

2. Strangely; oddly; as, to behave singularly .

3. So as to express one, or the singular number.

Singult <Xpage=1344>

Sin"gult (?) , n. [L. singultus .] A sigh or sobbing; also, a hiccough. [Obs.]

Spenser. W. Browne.

Singultous <Xpage=1344>

Sin*gul"tous (?) , a. (Med.) Relating to, or affected with, hiccough.

Dunglison.

Singultus <Xpage=1344>

Sin*gul"tus (?) , n. [L.] (Med.) Hiccough.

Sinical <Xpage=1344>

Sin"i*cal (?) , a. [From Sine .] (Trig.) Of or pertaining to a sine; employing, or founded upon, sines; as, a sinical quadrant .

Sinigrin <Xpage=1344>

Sin"i*grin (?) , n. [From NL. Sinapis nigra .] (Chem.) A glucoside found in the seeds of black mustard ( Brassica nigra , formerly Sinapis nigra ) It resembles sinalbin, and consists of a potassium salt of myronic acid.

Sinister <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*ter (?) , a. [Accented on the middle syllable by the older poets, as Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden.] [L. sinister : cf. F. sinistre .] 1. On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; -- opposed to dexter , or right . "Here on his sinister cheek."

Shak.

My mother's blood Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister Bounds in my father's Shak.

&hand; In heraldy the sinister side of an escutcheon is the side which would be on the left of the bearer of the shield, and opposite the right hand of the beholder.

2. Unlucky; inauspicious; disastrous; injurious; evil; -- the left being usually regarded as the unlucky side; as, sinister influences .

All the several ills that visit earth, Brought forth by night, with a sinister birth. B. Jonson.

3. Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest; corrupt; as, sinister aims .

Nimble and sinister tricks and shifts. Bacon.

He scorns to undermine another's interest by any sinister or inferior arts. South.

He read in their looks . . . sinister intentions directed particularly toward himself. Sir W. Scott.

4. Indicative of lurking evil or harm; boding covert danger; as, a sinister countenance .

Bar sinister . (Her.) See under Bar , n. -- Sinister aspect (Astrol.) , an appearance of two planets happening according to the succession of the signs, as Saturn in Aries, and Mars in the same degree of Gemini. -- Sinister base , Sinister chief . See under Escutcheon .

Sinister-handed <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*ter-hand"ed (?) , a. Left-handed; hence, unlucky. [Obs.]

Lovelace.

Sinisterly <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*ter*ly , adv. In a sinister manner.

Wood.

Sinistrad <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*trad (?) , adv. [L. sinistra the left hand + ad tp.] (Anat. & Zo\'94l.) Toward the left side; sinistrally.

Sinistral <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*tral (?) , a. 1. Of or pertaining to the left, inclining to the left; sinistrous; -- opposed to dextral .

2. (Zo\'94l.) Having the whorls of the spire revolving or rising to the left; reversed; -- said of certain spiral shells.

Sinistrality <Xpage=1344>

Sin`is*tral"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being sinistral.

Sinistrally <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*tral*ly (?) , adv. Toward the left; in a sinistral manner.

J. Le Conte.

Sinistrin <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*trin (?) , n. [L. sinister left.] (Chem.) A mucilaginous carbohydrate, resembling achro\'94dextrin, extracted from squill as a colorless amorphous substance; -- so called because it is levorotatory.

Sinistrorsal <Xpage=1344>

Sin`is*tror"sal (?) , a. [L. sinistrorsus , sinistroversus , turned toward the left side; sinister left + vertere , vortere , versum , vorsum , to turn.] Rising spirally from right to left (of the spectator); sinistrorse.

Sinistrorse <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*trorse` (?) , a. [See Sinistrolsal .] Turning to the left (of the spectator) in the ascending line; -- the opposite of dextrorse . See Dextrorse .

Sinistrous <Xpage=1344>

Sin"is*trous (?) , a. [See Sinister .] 1. Being on the left side; inclined to the left; sinistral. " Sinistrous gravity."

Sir T. Browne.

<page="1345"> Page 1345

2. Wrong; absurd; perverse.

A knave or fool can do no harm, even by the most sinistrous and absurd choice. Bentley.

Sinistrously <Xpage=1345>

Sin"is*trous*ly (?) , adv. 1. In a sinistrous manner; perversely; wrongly; unluckily.

2. With a tendency to use the left hand.

Many, in their infancy, are sinistrously disposed, and divers continue all their life left-handed. Sir T. Browne.

Sink <Xpage=1345>

Sink (?) , v. i. [ imp. Sunk (?) , or ( Sank (<?/) ); p. p. Sunk ( obs. Sunken , -- now used as adj. ) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sinking .] [OE. sinken , AS. sincan ; akin to D. zinken , OS. sincan , G. sinken , Icel. s\'94kkva , Dan. synke , Sw. sjunka , Goth. siggan , and probably to E. silt . Cf. Silt .] 1. To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink ; the sun sinks in the west .

I sink in deep mire. Ps. lxix. 2.

2. To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate.

The stone sunk into his forehead. 1 San. xvii. 49.

3. Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely.

Let these sayings sink down into your ears. Luke ix. 44.

4. To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease.

I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak.

He sunk down in his chariot. 2 Kings ix. 24.

Let not the fire sink or slacken. Mortimer.

5. To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height.

The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him. Addison.

Syn. -- To fall; subside; drop; droop; lower; decline; decay; decrease; lessen.

Sink <Xpage=1345>

Sink , v. t. 1. To cause to sink; to put under water; to immerse or submerge in a fluid; as, to sink a ship .