characteristic vs singularity

characteristic

noun
  • A distinguishing feature of a person or thing. 

  • For a given field or ring, a natural number that is either the smallest positive number n such that n instances of the multiplicative identity (1) summed together yield the additive identity (0) or, if no such number exists, the number 0. 

  • The integer part of a logarithm. 

  • The distinguishing features of a navigational light on a lighthouse etc by which it can be identified (colour, pattern of flashes etc.). 

adj
  • Being a distinguishing feature of a person or thing. 

singularity

noun
  • The state of being singular, distinct, peculiar, uncommon or unusual. 

  • An unusual action or behaviour. 

  • A point where all parallel lines meet. 

  • Celibacy, singleness (as contrasted with marriage). 

  • A point where a measured variable reaches unmeasurable or infinite value. 

  • The value or range of values of a function for which a derivative does not exist. 

How often have the words characteristic and singularity occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )