What is the difference between specific and peculiar?
specific | peculiar |
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
* Coleridge
(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)
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.
Out of the ordinary; odd; curious; unusual.
* 1800 , , Volume 41,
* 2001 , Jack Schaefer, Wendell Minor, Shane ,
* 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.
* 1855 , ,
*
* 1895 , , XX: Anomalous Islands: Celebes,
(dated) One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not shared or possessed by others.
* Bible, Titus ii. 14
* Hooker
(dated) Particular; individual; special; appropriate.
* Milton
* Dryden
That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.
* South
(UK, canon law) A particular parish or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary.
----
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)- Quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.
- In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science.
Antonyms
* all-purpose * broad * general * general-purpose * generic * gross * nonspecific * overall * pandemic * universal * unspecific * widespreadDerived terms
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *See also
* genericNoun
(en noun)Derived terms
*External links
* * * ----peculiar
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- The sky had a peculiar appearance before the storm.
- It would be rather peculiar to see a kangaroo hopping down a city street.
page 379,
- I saw nothing peculiar in his conduct, and thought that his arrangement of the ballot box was perfect.
- "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."
- Kangaroos are peculiar to Australia.
- 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.
- 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.
- And purify unto himself a peculiar people.
- hymns that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself
- while each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat
- 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) specificAntonyms
* (out of the ordinary) common, usual * (common or usual in a particular place or circumstance) common, general, universalDerived terms
* peculiarity * peculiarly * peculiarnessSee also
* (wikipedia "peculiar")Noun
(en noun)- Revenge is the peculiar of Heaven.
