Crossword clues for singleton
singleton
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Singleton \Sin"gle*ton\, n. In certain games at cards, as whist, a single card of any suit held at the deal by a player; as, to lead a singleton.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context playing cards English) A playing card that is the only one of its suit in a hand, especially at bridge. 2 A single object, especially one of a group. 3 (context computing English) A class that may not be instantiated more than once, i.e. that implements the singleton pattern. 4 (context mathematics English) A set with exactly one element. 5 A child or animal that is born singly, not as a twin or other multiple birth. 6 A person without a romantic partner.
WordNet
n. a single object (as distinguished from a pair)
a set containing a single member
the playing card that is the only card in a suit held in a bridge hand as initially dealt
Wikipedia
Singleton may refer to:
In mathematics, a singleton, also known as a unit set, is a set with exactly one element. For example, the set {0} is a singleton.
The term is also used for a 1- tuple (a sequence with one element).
In futurology, a singleton is a hypothetical world order in which there is a single decision-making agency at the highest level, capable of exerting effective control over its domain, and permanently preventing both internal and external threats to its supremacy. The term has first been defined by Nick Bostrom.
An artificial general intelligence having undergone an intelligence explosion could form a singleton, as could a world government armed with mind control and social surveillance technologies. A singleton need not directly micromanage everything in its domain; it could allow diverse forms of organization within itself, albeit guaranteed to function within strict parameters. A singleton need not support a civilization, and in fact could obliterate it upon coming to power.
A singleton has both potential risks and potential benefits. Notably, a suitable singleton could solve world coordination problems that would not otherwise be solvable, opening up otherwise unavailable developmental trajectories for civilization. For example, Ben Goertzel, an AGI researcher, suggests humans may instead decide to create an " AI Nanny" with "mildly superhuman intelligence and surveillance powers", to protect the human race from existential risks like nanotechnology and to delay the development of other (unfriendly) artificial intelligences until and unless the safety issues are solved. Furthermore, Bostrom suggests that a singleton could hold Darwinian evolutionary pressures in check, preventing agents interested only in reproduction from coming to dominate.
Yet Bostrom also regards the possibility of a stable, repressive, totalitarian global regime as a serious existential risk. The very stability of a singleton makes the installation of a bad singleton especially catastrophic, since the consequences can never be undone. Bryan Caplan writes that "perhaps an eternity of totalitarianism would be worse than extinction".
Similarly Hans Morgenthau stressed that the mechanical development of weapons, transportation, and communication makes "the conquest of the world technically possible, and they make it technically possible to keep the world in that conquered state". Its lack was the reason why great ancient empires, though vast, failed to complete universal conquest of their world and perpetuate the conquest. Now, however, this is possible. Technology undoes both geographic and climatic barriers. "Today no technological obstacle stands in the way of a world-wide empire", as "modern technology makes it possible to extend the control of mind and action to every corner of the globe regardless of geography and season." Morgenthau continued on the technological progress:
"Singleton" is a term for a lifestyle choice used to describe human beings who prefer living alone.
It was a phenomenon brought into public consciousness largely due to the popularity of the Bridget Jones novels and films.
Usage examples of "singleton".
Singularity a couple of times, usually in collaboration with gonzo Singleton Charlie Stross, the mad antipope of the Singularity.
Cary Singleton launched it, and, accompanied by two men, made the reconnoissance which so much frightened the gossipping laundresses.
Jack Singleton and myself to take the house for the month between mid-May and mid-June, but as I have already mentioned a short three weeks was all the time we passed there, and we had more than a week of our tenancy yet unexpired when we left the place, though on the very last afternoon we enjoyed the finest dry-fly fishing that has ever fallen to my lot.
Singleton, who had advised the Bellhangers since their ancestor made his fortune out of steam engines and built Windhammer.
There came a letter from one of her cousins in South Carolina, Angelica Singleton, who was coming to Washington and hoped she could call on Dolley while she was there.
Singletons, duos, trios, a few quads: they wandered aimlessly, keening without control.
These were singletons and duos and trios that were all that was left of whole packs.
The army was in awe of those cloaks, and of the singletons and duos who seemed smarter than the brightest pack.
Curran had gone for a walk, childishly and foolhardily still clutching the singleton container of the Duke.
Already, singleton banyans floated along the edge of the shoal, turning in stately circles.
Alone without its cloak, the mindless singleton had blabbered its pain.
On the other hand, the last I heard, Colonel John Singleton Mosby was still alive and full of piss and vinegar, no matter how dead this namesake at our feet seems to be right now.
I see he filled out these lodge membership cards under the name of John Singleton Mosby.
And a plurality of Onenesses may turn out to be even more dangerous than a plurality of singletons.
And we can send experienced squadrons who've had months and years to train together, rather than singletons and doubletons from all over the damned place that Giscard will have to shake down, plug in, and train after they arrive.