special

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈspeʃ.ᵊl/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English spetiale (later speciale),^[2] borrowed from Old French especial, shortened, and directly borrowed from Latin speciālis (“individual, particular”),^[3][2][4] from speciēs (“appearance; kind, sort”).^[3][5][6] It is a doublet of especial,^[7] and related to species and spy.^[2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Uncommon, exceptional: probably before 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle.^[2] Etymonline gives about 1200, “granted in unusual circumstances” and “specific” as opposed to general.^[3]

Semantic evolution

From about 1300 special meant “dear, favoured” and “chosen for an important task”, and by the mid-14th century “distinguished, excellent”.^[3] The sense “limited to a particular function” dates from the 14th century but developed mainly in the 19th, and “in addition to the usual”, as in special edition, is by 1840.^[3] The noun, a special person or thing, is from about 1300,^[3][2] and in the 14th century it could mean a sweetheart or close friend.^[3] A special was a special train from 1866,^[3][8] a special offer from 1939, and a special television programme from 1957, in American English.^[2] Special effects is from 1922, at first in the theatre.^[3] Speciality is from before 1425, specialize from 1613, and specialist from 1856.^[2]

Timeline

• before 1200 – exceptional (Ancrene Riwle).^[2]
• c. 1300 – favoured; noun, a special person.^[3]
• mid-14th century – excellent.^[3]
• before 1425 – speciality.^[2]
• 1613 – specialize.^[2]
• 1840 – additional, as in special edition.^[3]
• 1856 – specialist.^[2]
• 1866 – a special train.^[3]
• 1939 – a special offer.^[2]
• 1957 – a television special.^[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Better or greater than usual; exceptional.
2. Distinct among others of a kind.
3. Belonging to a particular person or thing; particular.
4. Having a limited or specific purpose or use.
5. Arranged for a particular occasion: a special edition.
6. Held in particular affection; dear.

Noun

1. Something arranged or issued for a particular occasion, such as a train.
2. A featured attraction, such as a reduced price.
3. A single television programme on a particular subject or performer.

Word family

• specially
• specialness
• interspecial
• specialism
• superspecial
• specialist
• speciality
• specialty

Related words

• especial
• especially
• species
• spy

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2000), 4th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
6. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
8. ^ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster