I. R pə(r)ˈtikyələr, - R pəˈtikyələ(r; pärˈt-, pȧˈt-, ÷ -k(ə)l- adjective
Etymology: Middle English particuler, from Middle French, from Late Latin particularis, from Latin particula small part, particle + -aris -ar
1. : of, relating to, or being a single definite person or thing as distinguished from some or all others — opposed to general
preferred the general to the particular approach — F.W.D.Deakin
claims of the United States or any particular state — U.S. Constitution
how a particular piece of land can be put to … use — Wall Street Journal
2. obsolete : involving affecting, or belonging to a part rather than the whole of something : partial in extent : not universal
the three years drought … was but particular and left people alive — Francis Bacon
3. : of, relating to, or concerned with the separate parts of a whole ; especially : describing or setting forth the details of something : minute , precise
a particular account of the day's events
4.
a. archaic : of, relating to, or concerning a single person, class, or thing : personal , private
these domestic and particular broils are not the question — Shakespeare
b. obsolete : not occupying public office : private
5.
a. : distinctive among others of the same kind : out of the ordinary : markedly unusual : worthy of notice
the … selection was the particular gem of the evening — Douglas Watt
an attack of particular severity — New York Times
a rather particular problem because of the immense size of the timbers — London Calling
b. obsolete : noteworthy as being peculiar, singular, or eccentric
6. : constituting a unit among a number : having a separate status : considered alone : individual , separate
each particular hair to stand an end, like quills — Shakespeare
provoked by particular events in his life — T.S.Eliot
7.
a. : having the character of a particular in logic
all concrete individuals are particular and all universal individuals are abstract — Nelson Goodman
b. : affirming or denying a predicate to some part of the subject — used of a proposition in logic; opposed to universal
“some men are wise” is a particular affirmative
8.
a. archaic : markedly or especially attentive to a person : familiar in manner or behavior
never suffer this fellow to be particular with you — Henry Fielding
b. : close or intimate in personal relationship
my very particular friend — Charles Dickens
9.
a. : concerned with or attentive to details : careful , exact , precise , scrupulous
is very particular about her housekeeping
b. : nice in taste : fastidious
c. : exacting : hard to please : finicky , fussy
these bacilli are not particular in their habitats — Justina Hill
never lost patience with even the most particular customers
Synonyms: see circumstantial , nice , single , special
II. noun
( -s )
1. archaic : a separate part of a whole : a constituent element, section, or division of something
let us divide the discourse into four particulars — Robert Johnson
2.
a. : an individual fact, point, circumstance, or detail
their dissimilarity in every particular except shape and size — Scott Fitzgerald
determined that history shall not repeat itself in that melancholy particular — Dean Acheson
b. : a specific item of information : a factual detail (as of news, specifications, accounts) — usually used in plural
everybody was stirred by the news and wanted to know the particulars — H.E.Scudder
genealogical particulars and biographical details are given — British Book News
— see bill of particulars
3.
a.
(1) : an individual specific separate thing, instance, or case as distinguished from a whole class
a discussion that attempts to generalize from particulars — Harvey Breit
from moral generalities to business particulars — G.B.Shaw
(2) : an individual or a specific subclass in logic falling under some general concept or term : something that can be the subject of an atomic proposition
b. : a particular proposition in logic
4.
a. archaic : an individual or personal case, business, or interest : special concern or condition
return from the common cause to what concerns our particular — William Warburton
b. obsolete : personal profit or advantage : private interest
if the gentleman had kept all the allowance for his own particular — Edward Nicholas
5.
a. : an individual item or article
a few letters and particulars in the possession of the present writer — Richard Garnett †1906
b. obsolete : an individual person ; especially : one in private as distinguished from public life
it is the greatest interest of particulars to advance the good of the community — Roger L'Estrange
6. : a statement setting forth the details of a matter
a particular of premises
I send you the descriptive particular — Frederick North
7. : something constituting a special distinguishing characteristic or feature (as of a place) — see london particular
Synonyms: see item
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- in particular