special

English Online Dictionary. What means special‎? What does special mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈspɛʃl̩/
• (General American) enPR: spĕʹshəl, IPA^(key): /ˈspɛʃ(ə)l/
• Rhymes: -ɛʃəl
• Hyphenation: spe‧cial

Adjective

special (comparative more special or specialer, superlative most special or specialest)

1. Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.
2. Of particular value or interest; dear; beloved.

3. (euphemistic) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
   1. (by extension, derogatory, often offensive) Stupid, lacking intelligence.

4. Constituting or relating to a species.

   Synonym: specific

5. (military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.

6. (law) Appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.

   For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.

   After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.

7. (euphemistic) Containing drugs, especially marijuana.

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “distinguished by a unique or unusual quality”): common, common-or-garden, everyday, general, nonspecial, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, usual

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

special (plural specials)

1. A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered; the thing thus sold.

   Synonym: offer

   Hyponym: blue-light special

2. A meal offered only at a certain time by a restaurant, not as a standing fixture of the menu; often, one of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price; also often a dish at a nondiscounted price that is seasonal or otherwise exciting or unusual.

   Hyponyms: blue-plate special, early bird special

3. (broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.

   Hyponyms: after school special, after-school special

4. (British, colloquial) A special constable.
5. Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.

6. Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
7. (journalism) A journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.

   Hypernyms: journalist, reporter, correspondent

   Coordinate term: stringer

8. (journalism) A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.

   Hypernym: report

9. (theater) A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.

   Hypernym: light

   Coordinate term: spotlight
10. One of certain mixed-breed dogs.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

special (third-person singular simple present specials, present participle specialing or specialling, simple past and past participle specialed or specialled)

1. (nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.

References

• “special”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• epicals, piacles, Plescia, plaices

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English special.

Pronunciation

• (Netherlands) IPA^(key): /ˈspɛ.ʃɔl/, /ˈspɛ.ʃɑl/
• Hyphenation: spe‧ci‧al

Noun

special m (plural specials)

1. a special broadcast episode

Related terms

• speciaal

Middle French

Adjective

special m (feminine singular speciale, masculine plural speciaulx, feminine plural speciales)

1. special; extraordinary; beyond what is usual

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French spécial, from Latin specialis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

special m or n (feminine singular specială, masculine plural speciali, feminine and neuter plural speciale)

1. special

Declension

Swedish

Noun

special c

1. a large-scale map folded into the main map or nautical chart

   Synonym: specialkarta

Declension

Adjective

special

1. (almost exclusively in compounds) special

Derived terms

• specialeffekt (“special effect”)

See also

• specialare
• specialitet (“specialty”)
• speciell (“special”)

References

• special in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• special in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• special in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)