Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
special - 7 dictionary results
spe⋅cial
[spesh-uh
l] 
–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. | distinguished 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. | being 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. | a temporary, arbitrary reduction in the price of regularly stocked goods, esp. food; a particularly worthwhile offer or price: The special this week is on sirloin steaks. |
| 13. | Television. a single program not forming part of a regular series. |
Origin:
1175–1225; ME (adj.) < L speciālis of a given species, equiv. to speci(ēs) species + -ālis -al 1 ; see especial
1175–1225; ME (adj.) < L speciālis of a given species, equiv. to speci(ēs) species + -ālis -al 1 ; see especial
Related forms:
spe⋅cial⋅ly, adverb
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. 2009.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To special
| spe·cial (spěsh'əl) adj.
[Middle English, from Old French especial, from Latin speciālis, from speciēs, kind; see species.] spe'cial·ly adv., spe'cial·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Special
Spe"cial\, a. [L. specialis, fr. species a particular sort, kind, or quality: cf. F. sp['e]cial. See Species, and cf. Especial.]1. Of or pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort. A special is called by the schools a "species". --I. Watts. 2. Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon. Our Savior is represented everywhere in Scripture as the special patron of the poor and the afficted. --Atterbury. To this special evil an improvement of style would apply a special redress. --De Quincey. 3. Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose, occasion, or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress; a special sermon. 4. Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action, investigation, or discussion; as, a special dictionary of commercial terms; a special branch of study. 5. Chief in excellence. [Obs.] The king hath drawn The special head of all the land together. --Shak. Special administration (Law), an administration limited to certain specified effects or acts, or one granted during a particular time or the existence of a special cause, as during a controversy respecting the probate of a will, or the right of administration, etc. Special agency, an agency confined to some particular matter. Special bail, Bail above, or Bail to the action (Law), sureties who undertake that, if the defendant is convicted, he shall satisfy the plaintiff, or surrender himself into custody. --Tomlins. Wharton (Law Dict.). Special constable. See under Constable. --Bouvier. Special damage (Law), a damage resulting from the act complained of, as a natural, but not the necessary, consequence of it. Special demurrer (Law), a demurrer for some defect of form in the opposite party pleading, in which the cause of demurrer is particularly stated. Special deposit, a deposit made of a specific thing to be kept distinct from others. Special homology. (Biol.) See under Homology. Special injuction (Law), an injuction granted on special grounds, arising of the circumstances of the case. --Daniell. Special issue (Law), an issue produced upon a special plea. --Stephen. Special jury (Law), a jury consisting of persons of some particular calling, station, or qualification, which is called upon motion of either party when the cause is supposed to require it; a struck jury. Special orders (Mil.), orders which do not concern, and are not published to, the whole command, such as those relating to the movement of a particular corps, a detail, a temporary camp, etc. Special partner, a limited partner; a partner with a limited or restricted responsibility; -- unknown at common law. Special partnership, a limited or particular partnership; -- a term sometimes applied to a partnership in a particular business, operation, or adventure. Special plea in bar (Law), a plea setting forth particular and new matter, distinguished from the general issue. --Bouvier. Special pleader (Law), originally, a counsel who devoted himself to drawing special counts and pleas; in a wider sense, a lawyer who draws pleadings. Special pleading (Law), the allegation of special or new matter, as distingiushed from a direct denial of matter previously alleged on the side. --Bouvier. The popular denomination of the whole science of pleading. --Stephen. The phrase is sometimes popularly applied to the specious, but unsound, argumentation of one whose aim is victory, and not truth. --Burrill. Special property (Law), a qualified or limited ownership possession, as in wild animals, things found or bailed. Special session, an extraordinary session; a session at an unusual time or for an unusual purpose; as, a special session of Congress or of a legislature. Special statute, or Special law, an act of the legislature which has reference to a particular person, place, or interest; -- in distinction from a general law. Special verdict (Law), a special finding of the facts of the case, leaving to the court the application of the law to them. --Wharton (Law Dict.). Syn: Peculiar; appropriate; specific; dictinctive; particular; exceptional; singular. See Peculiar.Special
Spe"cial\, n. 1. A particular. [Obs.] --Hammond. 2. One appointed for a special service or occasion. In special, specially; in particular. --Chaucer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : special
Spanish:
especial, extraordinario,
German:
besonder,
Japanese:
特別な
special
c.1225, "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 1303. In M.E., also as a noun, meaning "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 1684.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Main Entry: spe·cial
Function: adjective
1 : distinguished by some unusual quality <special circumstances justifying an award of attorney's fees>
2 : relating to a single thing or class of things : having an individual character or trait
3 a : supplemental to the regular b : assigned or provided to meet a need not covered under established procedures
4 : designed or selected for a particular purpose, occasion, or other end
5 : containing particulars and details special pleading> —spe·cial·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
SPECIAL language, specification
A 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)
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
