Etymologically
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special

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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
  • 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