English

single

/ˈsɪŋɡl̩/

Not accompanied by anything else; one in number.

Etymology graph

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Origin

From Middle English single, sengle, from Old French sengle, saingle, sangle, from Latin singulus, a diminutive derived from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one”). Akin to Latin simplex (“simple”). See simple, and compare singular.

From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Lineage

rootProto-Indo-European*sem- “one, whole”
inheritedMiddle Englishsingle
- derivedOld Frenchsengle
  - derivedLatinsingulus “single”

Related: Latin simplex

Words built on it: the, single out, every single time, single-use

Meanings

adj

Not accompanied by anything else; one in number.
Not divided in parts.
Designed for the use of only one.
Performed by one person, or one on each side.
Not married, and (in modern times) not dating or without a significant other.
Having only one rank or row of petals.

noun

A vinyl record with one song on side A and one on side B, usually 7 inches in diameter and played at 45 RPM.
A popular song released and sold (on any format) nominally on its own though usually having at least one extra track.
One who is not married or does not have a romantic partner.
A score of one run.
A hit in baseball where the batter advances to first base.
A tile that has a different value (i.e. number of pips) at each end.

verb

To get a hit that advances the batter exactly one base.
To thin out.
To take the irregular gait called singlefoot.
To sequester; to withdraw; to retire.
To take alone, or one by one; to single out.
To reduce (a railway) to single track.

Sources

Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Wiktionary: single