Single adj. 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."
2.Alone; having no companion. "Who single hast maintained, Against revolted multitudes, the cause Of truth."
3.Hence, unmarried; as, a single man or woman. "Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness." "Single chose to live, and shunned to wed."
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."
6.Uncompounded; pure; unmixed. "Simple ideas are opposed to complex, and single to compound."
7.Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere. "I speak it with a single heart."
8.Simple; not wise; weak; silly. (Obs.) "He utters such single matter in so infantly a voice."
Single ale, Single beer, or Single drink, small ale, etc., as contrasted with double ale, etc., which is stronger. (Obs.)
Single bill (Law), a written engagement, generally under seal, for the payment of money, without a penalty.
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 whip (Naut.), a single rope running through a fixed block.
Single 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 v. t. (past & past part. singled; pres. part. 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." "His blood! she faintly screamed her mind Still singling one from all mankind."
2.To sequester; to withdraw; to retire. (Obs.) "An agent singling itself from consorts."
3.To take alone, or one by one. "Men... commendable when they are singled."