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specialty

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spe⋅cial⋅ty

  [spesh-uhl-tee] noun, plural -ties, adjective
Use specialty in a Sentence
–noun
1. a special or distinctive quality, mark, state, or condition.
2. a special subject of study, line of work, area of interest, or the like: His specialty is art criticism.
3. an article or service particularly dealt in, rendered, manufactured, etc., or one to which the provider, dealer, or manufacturer claims to devote special care: The manufacturer's specialty is fine hats.
4. an article of unusual or superior design or quality.
5. a novelty; a new article.
6. an article with such strong consumer demand that it is at least partially removed from price competition.
7. a special or particular point, item, matter, characteristic, or peculiarity.
8. Law.
a. a special agreement, contract, etc., expressed in an instrument under seal.
b. a negotiable instrument not under seal.
–adjective
9. Theater. (in vaudeville)
a. performing or performed in a manner that is unusual or not customary for a type of act, esp. a performance involving dexterity or ingenuity, as a patter song: specialty actor; specialty act.
b. (of a song or dance) isolated from the rest of the show: specialty number.
Also, especially British, speciality.

Origin:
1300–50; ME specialte < MF especialte < LL speciālitās. See special, -ity

Synonyms:
3. trademark, stamp, badge, forte.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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spe·cial·ty   (spěsh'əl-tē)   
n.   pl. spe·cial·ties

  1. A special pursuit, occupation, aptitude, or skill. See Synonyms at forte1.

  2. A branch of medicine or surgery, such as cardiology or neurosurgery, in which a physician specializes; the field or practice of a specialist.

  3. A special feature or characteristic; a peculiarity.

  4. The state or quality of being special or distinctive.

  5. An item or a product of a distinctive kind or of particular superiority: French pastry is the chef's specialty.

  6. Law A special contract or agreement, especially a deed kept under seal.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

specialty 
c.1330, from M.Fr. especialte, variant of specialite, from L. specialitatem (nom. specialitas) "peculiarity," from specialis (see special). Speciality is attested from 1432; Fr. form spécialité (esp. in ref. to restaurant dishes) is recorded from 1839.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: spe·cial·ty
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
1Etymology: from the special form of the contract
: FORMAL CONTRACT at, CONTRACT
2 : a doctrine providing that a person extradited can be prosecuted only for the charges described in the order for extradition
3 : real property (as a parcel of land or esp. a structure) that is of such specialized character that no market for it exists and for which value upon condemnation is determined by the cost of reproduction less depreciation —used esp. in New York
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: spe·cial·ty
Pronunciation: 'spesh-&l-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
: something (as abranch of medicine) in which one specializes
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

specialty spe·cial·ty (spěsh'əl-tē)
n.
A branch of medicine or surgery in which a physician specializes; the field or practice of a specialist.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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