\Sin"gle\, a. [L. singulus, a dim. from the root in
simplex simple; cf. OE. & OF. sengle, fr. L. singulus. See
{Simple}, and cf. {Singular}.]
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.         --Pope.

2. Alone; having no companion.

         Who single hast maintained, Against revolted
         multitudes, the cause Of truth.       --Milton.

3. Hence, unmarried; as, a single man or woman.

         Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.
                                               --Shak.

         Single chose to live, and shunned to wed. --Dryden.

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.
                                               --Milton.

6. Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.

         Simple ideas are opposed to complex, and single to
         compound.                             --I. Watts.

7. Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere.

         I speak it with a single heart.       --Shak.

8. Simple; not wise; weak; silly. [Obs.]

         He utters such single matter in so infantly a voice.
                                               --Beau. & Fl.

{Single ale}, {beer}, or {drink}, small ale, etc., as
   contrasted with double ale, etc., which is stronger.
   [Obs.] --Nares.

{Single bill} (Law), a written engagement, generally under
   seal, for the payment of money, without a penalty.
   --Burril.

{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 knot}. See Illust. under {Knot}.

{Single whip} (Naut.), a single rope running through a fixed
   block.

\Sin"gle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Singled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{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.                                 --Bacon.

         His blood! she faintly screamed her mind Still
         singling one from all mankind.        --More.

2. To sequester; to withdraw; to retire. [Obs.]

         An agent singling itself from consorts. --Hooker.

3. To take alone, or one by one.

         Men . . . commendable when they are singled.
                                               --Hooker.

\Sin"gle\, v. i.
To take the irrregular gait called single-foot;- said of a
horse. See {Single-foot}.

      Many very fleet horses, when overdriven, adopt a
      disagreeable gait, which seems to be a cross between a
      pace and a trot, in which the two legs of one side are
      raised almost but not quite, simultaneously. Such
      horses are said to single, or to be single-footed. --W.
                                               S. Clark.

\Sin"gle\, 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.