special

pronunciation

How to pronounce special in British English: UK [ˈspeʃl] word uk audio image

How to pronounce special in American English: US [ˈspeʃl] word us audio image

Noun:

a special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising
a dish or meal given prominence in e.g. a restaurant
a television production that features a particular person or work or topic
Adjective:

unique or specific to a person or thing or category
for a special service or occasion
surpassing what is common or usual or expected
adapted to or reserved for a particular purpose
having a specific function or scope
first and most important
added to a regular schedule

Word Origin

special: special: [13] Latin speciēs originally denoted the ‘outward aspect’, the ‘look’ of something (it was derived from specere ‘look’, source of English spectacle, spectator, spy, etc). It later evolved metaphorically to ‘type, kind’, and in that sense was adopted by English as species [16] (spice is ultimately the same word). From it was derived the adjective speciālis ‘of a particular type’, which has given English special (especial [14] came via Old French especial). Other derivatives have given English specific [17], specify [13], specimen [17], and specious [17] (from Latin speciōsus ‘good-looking’).=> spectacle, spectator, spice, spy

special (adj.): c. 1200, "better than ordinary," from Old French special, especial "special, particular, unusual" (12c., Modern French spécial) and directly from Latin specialis "individual, particular" (source also of Spanish especial, Italian speziale), from species "appearance, kind, sort" (see species). Meaning "marked off from others by some distinguishing quality" is recorded from c. 1300; that of "limited as to function, operation, or purpose" is from 14c. Special effects first attested 1951. Special interests in U.S. political sense is from 1910. Special pleading first recorded 1680s, a term that had a sound legal meaning once but now is used generally and imprecisely. Special education in reference to those whose learning is impeded by some mental or physical handicap is from 1972.

special (n.): "sweetheart, lover; special person or thing," c. 1300, from special (adj.) or from noun use of the adjective in Old French. Meaning "special train" is attested from 1866.

adj.

adj.