I. ˈspeshəl adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French or Latin; Old French especial, from Latin specialis individual, particular, from species appearance, kind + -alis -al — more at spy
1. : distinguished by some unusual quality : uncommon , noteworthy , extraordinary
a special occasion
especially : distinguished by superiority
2. : regarded with particular favor and affection : dear , intimate
not a special friend of mine
3.
a. : relating to a single thing or class of things : having an individual character or trait : peculiar , unique
to this special evil an improvement of style would apply a special redress — Thomas De Quincey
b. : of or belonging to a particular species : constituting a species or kind
a special concept
4.
a. : supplemental to the regular : extra
a special edition of a newspaper
b. : assigned or provided to meet a particular need not covered under established procedures
a special correspondent
went west on a special train
5. : confined to a definite field of action : designed or selected for a particular purpose, occasion, or other end : limited in range
a special act of Congress
a special branch of study
a special student in college is not enrolled for the usual degree
6. : containing particulars : detailed , specific — opposed to general
a special confession
Synonyms:
especial , specific , particular , individual : special indicates the possessing of a quality, character, or identity of one's own, perhaps one out of the ordinary or conspicuously unusual
a special diet for these cases
special fatigue duty
the women never drink in this manner, which is absolutely special to men — J.G.Frazer
land that has special charm or outstanding beauty — S.P.B.Mais
it's not like ordinary photographs. There's something special about it — Arnold Bennett
especial may add implications of preeminence or preference
Gettysburg is of especial interest because of the famous battle — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
not one of his especial chums — Samuel Butler †1902
specific is applicable to special traits and characteristics in proportion as the group they characterize is limited; it often describes traits of an individual
get down to specific cases
the pressure on the universities, therefore, to educate men and women for specific vocations both increased and diversified — J.B.Conant
some years ago we read with singular pleasure a new guidebook … its specific charm was simply that it left out all the gush — C.E.Montague
particular , often interchangeable with specific , may differ from it in increasing suggestions of individual distinctness and decreasing those of membership in a group
more than three years in the South were a happy experience and a liberalizing education for this particular northern boy — E.J.Benton
any particular remark of a psychologist, if true, is unlikely to be startling — I.A.Richards
a sense for particular beauties of nature, rather than a sense for Nature herself — Laurence Binyon
individual applies to what is clearly isolated or individualized from all else
the individual idiosyncrasies of each member of the great family — Sherwood Anderson
more faith in the collective opinion of all Americans than in the individual opinion of any one American — F.D.Roosevelt
while the political influence of the baronage as a leading element in the whole nation thus steadily mounted, the personal and purely feudal power of each individual baron on his own estates as steadily fell — J.R.Green
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from special (I)
: specially , especially
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from special (I)
1.
a. obsolete : a favorite or intimate friend or companion ; especially : paramour
b. : a special thing : particular — usually used with the
from the general to the special
c. obsolete : species , kind
d. : one outside of or in addition to the regular or normal number, quantity, series, range, or similar category
not a regular, but a special
newsboys hawking the afternoon specials
a store featuring specials on meats
2. : one appointed or used for a special service or occasion
the train was a special for the football game
3.
a. : a special-delivery letter
b. : special-delivery stamp