Specific vs Substantive - What's the difference?
specific | substantive |
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.
Of the essence or essential element of a thing; as, "substantive information".
* 2012 , The Economist, 06 Oct 2012 issue; [http://www.economist.com/node/21564222 The first presidential debate: Back in the centre, back in the game]
Having substance; enduring; solid; firm; substantial.
* Hazlitt
(legal) Applying to essential legal principles and rules of right; as, "substantive law".
(chemistry) Of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.
Depending on itself; independent.
* Francis Bacon
As adjectives the difference between specific and substantive
is that specific is explicit or definite while substantive is nominalized.As a noun specific
is a distinguishing attribute or quality.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
* * * ----substantive
English
(wikipedia substantive)Adjective
(en adjective)- In one sense the first debate achieved the worst of all worlds: it managed to be technical, even dull, without being substantive or especially honest.
- Strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner.
- He considered how sufficient and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid of the foreigner.
