singly

English

Etymology

See single, Middle English senglely.

Adverb

singly (not comparable)

1. In a single or unaccompanied manner; without a companion.
   • 1901, Lew Walllace, Ben Hur^[1], Book 8, Chapter 10:

     The cross, reared now above all other objects, and standing singly out against the sky, was greeted with a burst of delight; and all who could see and read the writing upon the board over the Nazarene's head made haste to decipher it. Soon as read, the legend was adopted by them and communicated, and presently the whole mighty concourse was ringing the salutation from side to side, and repeating it with laughter and groans -"King of the Jews! Hail, King of the Jews!"

   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, “How My Shore Adventure Began”, in Treasure Island^Wikisource:

     Grey-coloured woods covered a large part of the surface. This even tint was indeed broken up by streaks of yellow sand-break in the lower lands, and by many tall trees of the pine family, out-topping the others--some singly, some in clumps....

2. Individually; particularly; severally

   to make men singly and personally good

3. Without partners, companions, or associates; single-handed

   to attack another singly

4. Honestly; sincerely; simply.
5. (obsolete) Singularly; peculiarly.

Translations

in a single or unaccompanied manner; without a companion

• Finnish: erikseen (fi), yksitellen (fi)

References

• singly in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

• Glynis
• lysing