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Singular vs Infinitive - What's the difference?

singular | infinitive |

In grammar terms the difference between singular and infinitive

is that singular is a form of a word that refers to only one person or thing while infinitive is formed with the infinitive.

singular

English

Alternative forms

* (abbreviation):

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Being only one of a larger population.
  • A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.
  • Being the only one of the kind; unique.
  • She has a singular personality.
  • * Addison
  • These busts of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind.
  • * Chaucer
  • And God forbid that all a company / Should rue a singular man's folly.
    (Francis Bacon)
  • Distinguished by superiority; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional.
  • a man of singular gravity or attainments
  • Out of the ordinary; curious.
  • It was very singular ; I don't know why he did it.
  • * Denham
  • So singular a sadness / Must have a cause as strange as the effect.
  • * Milton
  • His zeal / None seconded, as out of season judged, / Or singular and rash.
  • (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.
  • (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.
  • (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
  • (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own .
  • (legal) Each; individual.
  • to convey several parcels of land, all and singular
  • (obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.
  • * Holinshed
  • to try the matter thus together in a singular combat

    Synonyms

    * (being only one) individual * (being the only one of a kind) unique * (distinguished by superiority) exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable * (being out of the ordinary) curious, eccentric, funny, odd, peculiar, strange, rum, rummy, unusual * non-invertible

    Antonyms

    * plural * invertible, non-singular

    Derived terms

    * singularity * singularize

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.
  • Antonyms

    * plural

    See also

    * * simplex * simple * single * singulus

    Anagrams

    * ----

    infinitive

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (grammar) A non-finite verb form considered neutral with respect to inflection; depending on language variously found used with auxilary verbs, in subordinate clauses, or acting as a gerund, and often as the dictionary form.
  • (grammar) A verbal noun formed from the infinitive of a verb.
  • See also

    * gerund * supine * verb

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (grammar) Formed with the infinitive.
  • Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined.
  • * Cunningham's Sermons (quoted in 1823 , The Edinburgh Christian Instructor , volume 23, page 328)
  • ----