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What is the difference between specific and peculiar?

specific | peculiar |

Peculiar is a synonym of specific.



As adjectives the difference between specific and peculiar

is that specific is explicit or definite while peculiar is out of the ordinary; odd; curious; unusual.

As nouns the difference between specific and peculiar

is that specific is a distinguishing attribute or quality while peculiar is that which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.

specific

English

Alternative forms

* specifick (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • explicit or definite
  • (sciences) Pertaining to a species.
  • *2008 , (Richard Dawkins), The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing , Oxford 2009, p. 3:
  • *:Science and literature, then, are the two achievements of Homo sapiens that most convincingly justify the specific name.
  • (taxonomy) pertaining to a taxon at the rank of species
  • special, distinctive or unique
  • intended for, or applying to a particular thing
  • being a remedy for a particular disease
  • Quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.
  • * Coleridge
  • In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science.
  • (immunology) limited to a particular antibody or antigen
  • (physics) of a value divided by mass (e.g. specific orbital energy)
  • (physics) similarly referring to a value divided by any measure which acts to standardize it (e.g. thrust specific fuel consumption, referring to fuel consumption divided by thrust)
  • (physics) a measure compared with a standard reference value by division, to produce a ratio without unit or dimension (e.g. specific refractive index is a pure number, and is relative to that of air)
  • Antonyms

    * all-purpose * broad * general * general-purpose * generic * gross * nonspecific * overall * pandemic * universal * unspecific * widespread

    Derived terms

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    See also

    * generic

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A distinguishing attribute or quality.
  • Something particularly adapted for a particular use, as a remedy for a particular disorder
  • Specification
  • (in the plural) The details; particulars.
  • Derived terms

    *

    peculiar

    English

    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.

    Synonyms

    * (out of the ordinary) strange, uncommon, unusual * (common or usual in a particular place or circumstance) specific

    Antonyms

    * (out of the ordinary) common, usual * (common or usual in a particular place or circumstance) common, general, universal

    Derived terms

    * peculiarity * peculiarly * peculiarness

    See also

    * (wikipedia "peculiar")

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.
  • * South
  • Revenge is the peculiar of Heaven.
  • (UK, canon law) A particular parish or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary.
  • References

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