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singularis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word singularis

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Varro
Ultimate origin
Latin (singulī)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sɪŋ.ɡʊˈɫaː.rɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [siŋ.ɡuˈlaː.ris][1]

Forms

singulāris (neuter singulāre, adverb singulāriter); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from singulī “one each” with -āris.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are Varro, and Köbler's earliest source is Varro.[2][3] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant belonging to one person or thing alone, individual, as in Varro; single, one alone, solitary, as of a man alone in Caesar; in grammar, from Varro, singular in number; remarkable, unique, outstanding; strange, unusual, as in Cicero; and in Tacitus a soldier picked for special duties.[2][4] singulāre certāmen was single combat.[3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means remarkable, unique, excellent, solitary, single.[5] Medieval Latin used it of animals for wild, and as a noun singulāris (porcus) for the wild boar, the source of French sanglier and Italian cinghiale.[6][1] English singular (mid-14th century) is from it through Old French.[7]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it, also as a grammatical term.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the unusual.[2][3]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of a guardsman.[2][3]
  • mid-14th century – English singular is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Belonging to one alone, individual.[2]
  2. Single, solitary.[2][4]
  3. (grammar) Singular.[2]
  4. Remarkable, unique; strange.[2][5]
  5. (noun) A picked soldier, guardsman.[2]
  6. (Medieval Latin, noun) A wild boar.[6]

Word family

  • singillarius
  • singlāriter
  • singulāritās
  • singulāriter

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Singularis.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/singularis. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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