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Single. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Single, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Single in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
Single you have here. The definition of the word
Single will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
Single, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Old English sengel (“brushwood; burnt clearing”), a topographic surname for someone who lived by a brushwood.
Proper noun
Single (plural Singles)
- A surname from Old English.
Statistics
- According to the 2010 United States Census, Single is the 41886th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 519 individuals. Single is most common among White (88.44%) individuals.
Further reading
German
Etymology
In all senses from English single. The pronunciation is without /ɡ/ because German allows the cluster /ŋɡ/ only before full vowels, not before /ə/. The feminine gender of the musical sense is probably after Schallplatte f.
Pronunciation
Noun
Single f (genitive Single, plural Singles)
- (music) single (45rpm vinyl record)
- (music) single (song from an album, released individually)
Declension
Noun
Single m (strong, genitive Singles or Single, plural Singles or Single)
- single; singleton (someone who is not involved in a stable romantic relationship)
Usage notes
- Not used in German to mean “unmarried”. For that, see ledig, unverheiratet (and nominalisations thereof). Single also generally implies an openness for romantic or sexual relations, so it would not commonly be used of someone living in celibacy, or of a widow(er) in their 80s. The usual word for “living alone without a family” is alleinstehend.
- The normal plural is Singles. Chiefly colloquially it may also be unchanged Single. Note, however, that the dative plural den Singlen, while unproblematic in speech, is awkward in writing (compare the same in the word Bachelor).
Declension
Noun
Single n (strong, genitive Singles or Single, plural Singles)
- (tennis) single (game with one player on each side)
Declension
Further reading
- “Single” in Duden online
- “Single” in Duden online
- “Single” in Duden online
- “Single” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache