singularly

Everyday

1. (formal) Singularly means very, unusually or especially, often in a surprising way. tree →
2. Singularly can also mean one at a time, separately, though «singly» is more common for this. tree →

In the lessons

Mostly found in old books and formal writing: «a singularly ugly hat», «singularly unhelpful». Old-fashioned narrators in Alice and The Wind in the Willows use such words for a grand or funny tone. In maths, «singular» means one (singular and plural), but «singularly» almost always means «very».

Examples

• It was a singularly cold morning for June. tree →
• The Mole found the Wild Wood singularly unfriendly. tree →
• He was singularly unlucky with the weather on his holidays. tree →
• The answer was singularly clear. tree →
• Toad was singularly pleased with himself. tree →
• That was a singularly bad idea. tree →
• You seem to be a singularly thoughtless little girl." tree →

Note

From «singular» (single, unusual). Formal and rather old-fashioned; in everyday speech say «very», «really» or «unusually». It does not mean «sadly» or «alone».