PECULIAR

peculiar

(adjective) characteristic of one only; distinctive or special; “the peculiar character of the Government of the U.S.”- R.B.Taney

peculiar

(adjective) markedly different from the usual; “a peculiar hobby of stuffing and mounting bats”; “a man...feels it a peculiar insult to be taunted with cowardice by a woman”-Virginia Woolf

curious, funny, odd, peculiar, queer, rum, rummy, singular

(adjective) beyond or deviating from the usual or expected; “a curious hybrid accent”; “her speech has a funny twang”; “they have some funny ideas about war”; “had an odd name”; “the peculiar aromatic odor of cloves”; “something definitely queer about this town”; “what a rum fellow”; “singular behavior”

peculiar, particular(a), special

(adjective) unique or specific to a person or thing or category; “the particular demands of the job”; “has a particular preference for Chinese art”; “a peculiar bond of sympathy between them”; “an expression peculiar to Canadians”; “rights peculiar to the rich”; “the special features of a computer”; “my own special chair”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

peculiar (comparative more peculiar, superlative most peculiar)

Out of the ordinary; odd; strange; unusual.

Synonyms: odd, strange, uncommon, unusual

Antonyms: common, mediocre, ordinary, usual

Common or usual for a certain place or circumstance; specific or particular.

Synonym: specific

Antonyms: common, general, universal

(dated) One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not shared or possessed by others.

(dated) Particular; individual; special; appropriate.

Synonyms

• (out of the ordinary): see also strange

• (common or usual in a particular place or circumstance): see also specific

Antonyms

• (out of the ordinary): see also normal

• (common or usual in a particular place or circumstance): see also generic

Noun

peculiar (plural peculiars)

That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.

(UK, canon law) an ecclesiastical district, parish, chapel or church outside the jurisdiction of the bishop of the diocese in which it is situated.

Anagrams

• pericula

Source: Wiktionary


Pe*cul"iar, a. Etym: [L. peculiaris, fr. peculium private property, akin to pecunia money: cf. OF. peculier. See Pecuniary.]

1. One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in participation. And purify unto himself a peculiar people. Titus ii. 14. Hymns . . . that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself. Hooker.

2. Particular; individual; special; appropriate. While each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat. Milton. My fate is Juno's most peculiar care. Dryden.

3. Unusual; singular; rare; strange; as, the sky had a peculiarappearance.

Syn.

– Peculiar, Special, Especial. Peculiar is from the Roman peculium, which was a thing emphatically and distinctively one's own, and hence was dear. The former sense always belongs to peculiar (as, a peculiar style, peculiar manners, etc.), and usually so much of the latter as to involve feelings of interest; as, peculiar care, watchfulness, satisfaction, etc. Nothing of this kind belongs to special and especial. They mark simply the relation of species to genus, and denote that there is something in this case more than ordinary; as, a special act of Congress; especial pains, etc. Beauty, which, either walking or asleep, Shot forth peculiar graces. Milton. For naught so vile that on the earth doth live, But to the earth some special good doth give. Shak.

Pe*cul"iar, n.

1. That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic. Revenge is . . . the peculiar of Heaven. South.

2. (Eng. Canon Law)

Definition: A particular parish or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary. Court of Peculiars (Eng. Law), a branch of the Court of Arches having cognizance of the affairs of peculiars. Blackstone.

– Dean of peculiars. See under Dean, 1.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

6 June 2025

PUNGENCY

(noun) wit having a sharp and caustic quality; “he commented with typical pungency”; “the bite of satire”


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Coffee Trivia

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