I. pə(r)-ˈti-kyə-lər, -k(ə-)lər adjective
Etymology: Middle English particuler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin particularis, from Latin particula small part
Date: 14th century
1. : of, relating to, or being a single person or thing
the particular person I had in mind
2. obsolete : partial
3. : of, relating to, or concerned with details
gave us a very particular account of the trip
4.
a. : distinctive among other examples or cases of the same general category : notably unusual
suffered from measles of particular severity
b. : being one unit or element among others
particular incidents in a story
5.
a. : denoting an individual member or subclass in logic
b. : affirming or denying a predicate to a part of the subject — used of a proposition in logic
“some men are wise” is a particular affirmative
6.
a. : concerned over or attentive to details : meticulous
a very particular gardener
b. : nice in taste : fastidious
c. : hard to please : exacting
Synonyms: see circumstantial , special
II. noun
Date: 15th century
1. archaic : a separate part of a whole
2.
a. : an individual fact, point, circumstance, or detail
a hero in every particular — Ron Fimrite
b. : a specific item or detail of information — usually used in plural
wanted to know all the particular s of the incident
bill of particular s
3.
a. : an individual or a specific subclass (as in logic) falling under some general concept or term
b. : a particular proposition in logic
Synonyms: see item
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- in particular