different between representative vs singular

English

Etymology

From Old French representatif.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???p???z?nt(?t)?v/
• Hyphenation: rep?re?sen?ta?tive

Adjective

representative (comparative more representative, superlative most representative)

1. Typical; having the same properties or interest as a larger group.
   • c. 1977, Carl Parker (attributed quote)

     If you took all the fools out of the legislature, it wouldn't be a representative body anymore.

2. Representing, showing a likeness.

Translations

Noun

representative (plural representatives)

1. A delegate.
   1. Someone who represents others as a member of a legislative or governing body. [from 17th c.]

   2. (generally) One who speaks for or acts on behalf of another in a particular (especially official) capacity. [from 17th c.]

   3. (law) An heir. [from 17th c.]
      • 1751, Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, I.1:

        This pathetic remonstrance had the desired effect upon his representative, who spared no pains to fulfill the request of the deceased […] .

   4. (US, politics) Specifically, a member of the US House of Representatives. [from 18th c.]

   5. A company agent who visits potential purchasers; a salesman. [from 20th c.]
2. Something standing for something else.
   1. Something representing or standing for another; a symbol, an embodiment. [from 17th c.]
   2. Something (especially a living organism]] regarded as typical of its class; a type. [from 17th c.]
   3. A substitute or analogue. [from 17th c.]

Synonyms

• rep
• See also Thesaurus:deputy

Derived terms

• legal representative

Related terms

• House of Representatives
• represent
• representative body
• Member of Parliament

Translations

Further reading

• "representative" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 266.

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

representative

1. inflection of representativ:
   1. definite singular
   2. plural

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

representative

1. inflection of representativ:
   1. definite singular
   2. plural

English

Alternative forms

• sing., sg., sg (abbreviation)

Etymology

From Middle English singuler, borrowed from Old French, from Latin singul?ris (“alone of its kind”), from Latin singulus (“single”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?s???j?l?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s???j?l?/

Adjective

singular (comparative more singular, superlative most singular)

1. Being only one of a larger population.

   Synonym: individual

   Antonym: general

2. Being the only one of the kind; unique.

   • The busts […] of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.

   • And God forbid that all a company / Should rue a singular manne's folly.

   • 1620, Francis Bacon, Novum Organum

     singular instances

   Synonym: unique

3. Distinguished by superiority: peerless, unmatched, eminent, exceptional, extraordinary.

   Synonyms: exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable

4. Out of the ordinary; curious.
   • 1641, John Denham, The Sophy

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

   Synonyms: curious, eccentric, funny, odd, peculiar, rum, rummy, strange, unusual

5. (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.

   Antonym: plural

6. (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.

   Synonym: non-invertible

   Antonyms: invertible, non-singular

7. (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
8. (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own cofinality.
9. (law) Each; individual.

10. (obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.

    • Thus made he an end, and the two princes allowed well of his last motion, and so order was taken, that they should fight togither in a singular combat

Synonyms

• (being only one): see also Thesaurus:specific
• (being the only one of a kind): see also Thesaurus:unique
• (being out of the ordinary): see also Thesaurus:strange

Antonyms

• (being only one): see also Thesaurus:generic

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

singular (plural singulars)

1. (grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.

   Antonym: plural

2. (logic) That which is not general; a specific determinate instance.

Derived terms

• singulare tantum

Related terms

• plural

Translations

See also

• (grammatical numbers) grammatical number; singular, dual, trial, quadral, paucal, plural ^{(Category: en:Grammar)}

Further reading

• singular in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• singular in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• singular at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• rail guns, railguns

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singul?ris. Doublet of senglar.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA^(key): /si?.?u?la/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /si?.?u?la?/

Adjective

singular (masculine and feminine plural singulars)

1. singular

   Antonym: plural

Derived terms

• singularment

Related terms

Galician

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singul?ris.

Adjective

singular m or f (plural singulares)

1. (grammar) singular

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singul?ris. Doublet of senheiro.

Adjective

singular m or f (plural singulares, comparable)

1. singular (being the only one of a kind)

   Synonym: único

2. (grammar) singular (referring to only one thing)

   Antonym: plural

Derived terms

• singularmente

Related terms

• singularidade

Noun

singular m (plural singulares)

1. (grammar) singular (form of a word that refers to only one thing)

   Antonym: plural

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singul?ris.

Noun

s?ngul?r m (Cyrillic spelling ??????????)

1. singular

   Synonym: jednìna

Declension

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singul?ris. Doublet of señero.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sin?u?la?/, [s??.?u?la?]

Adjective

singular (plural singulares)

1. singular

   Antonym: plural

2. odd, peculiar

Derived terms

• singularmente

Related terms

• singularidad

Noun

singular m (plural singulares)

1. singular

   Antonym: plural

Further reading

• “singular” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.