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Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; -- opposed to compound. Simple contract (Law), any contract, whether verbal or written, which is not of record or under seal. J. W. Smith. Chitty. -- Simple equation (Alg.), an eqyation containing but one unknown quantity, and that quantity only in the…

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.

Individually; particularly; severally; as, to make men singly and personally good.

Existing by itself; single; individual. The idea which represents one . . . determinate thing, is called a singular idea, whether simple, complex, or compound. I. Watts.

To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks in the west. I sink in deep mire. Ps. lxix. 2.

from my soul, that the legislature of this state [Virginia] could see the policy of a gradual abolition of slavery. It might prevent much future mischief. Washington.

A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.

Not happening in a short time; gradual; late. These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast. Milton.

Growing gradually fainter and softer; dying away; morendo.

To become sober; -- often with down. Vance gradually sobered down. Ld. Lytton.

Naturally growing in groups or masses; -- said of many individual plants of the same species.

collectively considered, who live in any region or at any period; any community of individuals who are united together by a common bond of nearness or intercourse; those who recognize each other as associates, friends, and acquaintances.

Being or acting without another; single; individual; only. "The sole son of my queen." Shak. He, be sure . . . first and last will reign Sole king. Milton.

Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of vengeance; a solitary example.

A certain; one; -- indicating a person, thing, event, etc., as not known individually, or designated more specifically; as, some man, that is, some one man. "Some brighter clime." Mrs. Barbauld. Some man praiseth his neighbor by a wicked intent. Chaucer. Most gentlemen of property, at some period or other of their live…

A condition of the nervous system in which an individual during sleep performs actions approppriate to the waking state; a state of sleep in which some of the senses and voluntary powers are partially awake; noctambulism.

A kind or species; any number or collection of individual persons or things characterized by the same or like qualities; a class or order; as, a sort of men; a sort of horses; a sort of trees; a sort of poems.

In a more general sense, "an animating, separable, surviving entity, the vehicle of individual personal existence." Tylor. The eyes of our souls only then begin to see, when our bodily eyes are closing. Law.

A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes, and extending to fewer individuals. Thus, man is a species, under animal as…

The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.