Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Special
Spe′cial
,Adj.
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
sermon4.
Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action, investigation, or discussion;
as, a
. special
dictionary of commercial terms; a special
branch of study5.
Chief in excellence.
[Obs.]
The king hath drawn
The
The
special
head of all the land together. Shakespeare
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 legislatureSpecial statute
, or Special law
an act of the legislature which has reference to a particular person, place, or interest; a
– private law
; – in distinction from a general law
or public 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
. Spe′cial
,Noun.
1.
A particular.
[Obs.]
Hammond.
2.
One appointed for a special service or occasion.
In special
, specially; in particular.
Chaucer.
Webster 1828 Edition
Special
SPECIAL
,Noun.
Definition 2024
special
special
See also: spécial
English
Adjective
special (comparative more special, superlative most special)
- Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.
- a special episode of a television series
- Of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored.
- Everyone is special to someone.
- (euphemistic) Retarded; mentally handicapped
- He goes to a special school.
- Constituting or relating to a species.
- The seven dark spots is a special property unique to Coccinella septempunctata.
- Chief in excellence.
- Shakespeare
- The king hath drawn / The special head of all the land together.
- Shakespeare
Antonyms
Derived terms
Terms derived from special
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Related terms
Terms etymologically related to special
Translations
distinguished by a unique or unusual quality
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of particular interest or value; certain; dear; beloved; favored
|
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(offensive slang): retarded; handicapped
constituting or relating to a species
Noun
special (plural specials)
- A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.
- We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.
- (broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series
- (Britain, colloquial) A special constable.
- Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
- Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.
- (video games) special move
- 1995, "Tony Pordon", Tekken Review [PSX] (on newsgroup rec.games.video.misc)
- Using the right moves, you can sometimes chain 2 specials in a row to form multiple hit combos.
- 1995, "Tony Pordon", Tekken Review [PSX] (on newsgroup rec.games.video.misc)
Translations
A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered
(tv, radio) Unsual or exceptional episode of a series
Verb
special (third-person singular simple present specials, present participle specialing or specialling, simple past and past participle specialed or specialled)
- (nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.
- 2015 July 7, Jo-Ann Giandinoto, Karen-leigh Edward, “The phenomenon of co-morbid physical and mental illness in acute medical care: the lived experience of Australian health professionals”, in BMC Research Notes, volume 8, DOI::
- Participant three described their personal interest in mental health care: “I have an interest in mental health but I have found that other staff on the surgical ward who have been there for a while… often say I hate specialling these patients…”
Statistics
Most common English words before 1923: James · Greek · island · #934: special · memory · proved · plan
Anagrams
Middle French
Adjective
special m (feminine singular speciale, masculine plural speciaulx, feminine plural speciales)
- special; extraordinary; beyond what is usual