[pe.cu.liar] adj [ME peculier, fr. L peculiaris of private property, special, fr. peculium private property, fr. pecu cattle; akin to L pecus cattle--more at fee] (15c) 1: characteristic of only one person, group, or thing: distinctive
2: different from the usual or normal: a: special, particular b: odd, curious c: eccentric, queer syn see characteristic, strange -- pe.cu.liar.ly adv
[2]peculiar n (1562): something exempt from ordinary jurisdiction; esp: a church or parish exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary in whose territory it lies