Nearby Words
Synonyms
adjective
1.
of a distinct or particular kind or character: a special kind of key.
2.
being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain: You'd better call the special number.
3.
pertaining or peculiar to a particular person, thing, instance, etc.; distinctive; unique: the special features of a plan.
4.
having a specific or particular function, purpose, etc.: a special messenger.
5.
EXPANDdistinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual: a special occasion; to fix something special.
6.
extraordinary; exceptional, as in amount or degree; especial: special importance.
7.
COLLAPSEbeing such in an exceptional degree; particularly valued: a special friend.
noun
8.
a special person or thing.
9.
a train used for a particular purpose, occasion, or the like.
10.
a special edition of a newspaper.
11.
Theater. a spotlight reserved for a particular area, property, actor, etc.: Give me the coffin special.
12.
EXPANDa temporary, arbitrary reduction in the price of regularly stocked goods, especially food; a particularly worthwhile offer or price: The special this week is on sirloin steaks.
13.
COLLAPSETelevision. a single program not forming part of a regular series.
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Special
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English (adj.) < Latin speciālis of a given species, equivalent to speci(ēs) species + -ālis -al1; see especial
1175–1225; Middle English (adj.) < Latin speciālis of a given species, equivalent to speci(ēs) species + -ālis -al1; see especial
Related forms
spe·cial·ly, adverb
in·ter·spe·cial, adjective
non·spe·cial, adjective, noun
non·spe·cial·ly, adverb
su·per·spe·cial, adjective, noun
Synonyms
5. singular. Special, particular, specific refer to something pointed out for attention and consideration. Special means given unusual treatment because of being uncommon: a special sense of a word. Particular implies something selected from the others of its kind and set off from them for attention: a particular variety of orchid. Specific implies plain and unambiguous indication of a particular instance, example, etc.: a specific instance of cowardice.
5. singular. Special, particular, specific refer to something pointed out for attention and consideration. Special means given unusual treatment because of being uncommon: a special sense of a word. Particular implies something selected from the others of its kind and set off from them for attention: a particular variety of orchid. Specific implies plain and unambiguous indication of a particular instance, example, etc.: a specific instance of cowardice.
Antonyms
1. general.
1. general.
Usage note
In American English the adjective special is overwhelmingly more common than especial in all senses: He will be of special help if you can't understand the documentation. The reverse is true of the adverbs; here especially is by far the more common: He will be of great help, especially if you have trouble understanding the documentation. Only when the sense “specifically” is intended is specially more idiomatic: The machine was specially designed for use by a left-handed operator.
In American English the adjective special is overwhelmingly more common than especial in all senses: He will be of special help if you can't understand the documentation. The reverse is true of the adverbs; here especially is by far the more common: He will be of great help, especially if you have trouble understanding the documentation. Only when the sense “specifically” is intended is specially more idiomatic: The machine was specially designed for use by a left-handed operator.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To special
Collins
World English Dictionary
| special (ˈspɛʃəl) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | distinguished, set apart from, or excelling others of its kind |
| 2. | (prenominal) designed or reserved for a particular purpose: a special tool for working leather |
| 3. | not usual or commonplace |
| 4. | (prenominal) particular or primary: his special interest was music |
| 5. | denoting or relating to the education of physically or mentally handicapped children: a special school |
| —n | |
| 6. | a special person or thing, such as an extra edition of a newspaper or a train reserved for a particular purpose |
| 7. | a dish or meal given prominence, esp at a low price, in a café, etc |
| 8. | slang (Austral) history a convict given special treatment on account of his education, social class, etc |
| 9. | short for special constable |
| 10. | informal (Austral), (NZ), (US), (Canadian) an item in a store that is advertised at a reduced price; a loss leader |
| —vb , -cials, -cialling, -cialled | |
| 11. | informal (NZ) to advertise and sell (an item) at a reduced price: we are specialling butter this week |
| [C13: from Old French especial, from Latin speciālis individual, special, from speciēs appearance, | |
| 'specially | |
| —adv | |
| 'specialness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
special
early 13c., "better than ordinary," from O.Fr. especial, from L. specialis "individual, particular," from species "appearance, kind, sort" (see species). Meaning "marked off from others by some distinguishing quality" is recorded from c.1300. In M.E., also as a noun, meaning
EXPAND"sweetheart, lover." Meaning "special train" is attested from 1866. Special effects first attested 1951. Special interests in U.S. political sense is from 1910. Special pleading first recorded 1680s.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
SPECIAL definition
language, specificationA specification language developed at SRI around 1976.
["SPECIAL - A Specification and Assertion Language", L. Robinson et al, TR CSL-46, SRI, Jan 1977].
[Also known as "HDM"? What's HDM?]
(2004-12-03)
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