Adjective

(en adjective)

Out of the ordinary; odd; curious; unusual.

The sky had a peculiar appearance before the storm.

It would be rather peculiar to see a kangaroo hopping down a city street.

* 1800 , , Volume 41, page 379,

I saw nothing peculiar in his conduct, and thought that his arrangement of the ballot box was perfect.

* 2001 , Jack Schaefer, Wendell Minor, Shane ,

"Wasn't it peculiar ," I heard mother say, "How he wouldn't talk about himself?"

"Peculiar ?" said father. "Well, yes, in a way."

"Everything about him is peculiar ." Mother sounded as if she was stirred up and interested. "I never saw a man quite like him before."

* 2008', Stephen Arnott, '''''Peculiar Proverbs: Weird Words of Wisdom from Around the World .

Common or usual for a certain place or circumstance; specific or particular.

Kangaroos are peculiar to Australia.

* 1855 , ,

This philosopher found his ideas especially in all that is practical,^[29] that is, which rests upon freedom, which in its turn ranks under cognitions that are the peculiar product of reason.

*

* 1895 , , XX: Anomalous Islands: Celebes,

But of late years extensive Tertiary deposits of Miocene age have been discovered, showing that it is not a mere congeries of volcanoes; it [Iceland] is connected with the British Islands and with Greenland by seas less than 500 fathoms deep; and it possesses a few mammalia, one of which is peculiar', and at least three ' peculiar species of birds.

(dated) One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not shared or possessed by others.

* Bible, Titus ii. 14

And purify unto himself a peculiar people.

* Hooker

hymns that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself

(dated) Particular; individual; special; appropriate.

* Milton

while each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat

* Dryden

My fate is Juno's most peculiar care.

Adjective

(en adjective)

Capable of being perceived very clearly.

* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Fenella Saunders

, title= Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.}}

Different from one another (with the preferable adposition being "from").

* {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne, title=Well Tackled!

, chapter=13 citation , passage=“Yes, there are two distinct sets of footprints, both wearing rubber shoes—one I think ordinary plimsolls, the other goloshes,” replied the sergeant.}}

Noticeably different from others; distinctive.

Separate in place; not conjunct or united; with from .

* Clarendon

The intention was that the two armies which marched out together should afterward be distinct .

(obsolete) Distinguished; having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign; marked out; specified.

* Milton

Wherever thus created — for no place / Is yet distinct by name.

(obsolete) Marked; variegated.

* Spenser

The which [place] was dight / With divers flowers distinct with rare delight.