English Language & Usage Asked by Maxim Zubarev on January 21, 2021
I am struggling to find an appropriate and convenient wording to describe that something exists only one time in the whole world. Usually the word “unique” implies exactly that, but it’s been misused for things which are not really unique that it lost its power for this purpose imho.
As an example here are some sentences about a painting and why I don’t think the phrase is good:
I am looking for a very short expression or just one word which doesn’t sound cumbersome, doesn’t leave room for interpretation and is well known
one-off TFD
An isolated occurrence; something that happens just once.
As in:
2003 Washington Post (Home ed.) 12 Aug. 13/1 Iraq is obviously pivotal to American national security. But it is a one-off, an unusual case that is unlikely to recur.
Answered by lbf on January 21, 2021
The word you need is Singular.
"...unique doesn't carry over enough power to the uniqueness."? To begin, pardon my gripe, whatever the word unique has come to mean, now or in the future it is the one and only word that can carry over its meaning.
Failing unique you can ignore words that allow for copies of the given work. It is only the original work of art you are describing. A photo in the magazine with your notes will not count as the artwork itself.
The word you need is Singular. This means a single article with no other like it. Pertaining to the original you may call it a singular creation, no copies need apply.
Answered by Elliot on January 21, 2021
An original with no copies in existence.
Answered by George White on January 21, 2021
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