specialty
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈspɛʃ.əl.ti/ (US)[1]
Etymology
It is inherited from Middle English specialte, borrowed from Old French especialte, the more vernacular form of specialite (see speciality),[2][3][4] from Late Latin speciālitās,[3] from speciālis (“special”) (see special).[3]
Earliest recorded meaning
Particular affection, special attachment or favour: about 1300 in Etymonline, about 1330 in the OED.[2][5]
Semantic evolution
Detail in description is from about 1380,[5] and an unusual thing or distinctive characteristic is attested by the early 15th century.[2] A specialized branch of learning is from the late 15th century,[2] and a characteristic product or manufacture by 1860.[2] The pairs specialty and speciality, like realty and reality, are vernacular and learned forms of the same word.[2] In law a specialty is a formal contract made by deed.[6]
Timeline
- c. 1300 – special affection.[2]
- c. 1380 – detail.[5]
- early 15th century – a distinctive feature.[2]
- late 15th century – a branch of learning.[2]
- 1860 – a characteristic product.[2]
Modern meaning
Noun
- A special pursuit, skill or field of work; a branch of medicine in which a doctor specializes.
- A product or dish for which a person or place is well known.
- A special feature or characteristic; a peculiarity.
- (law) A formal contract or obligation expressed in a deed.
Related words
- specialist
- subspecialty
- subspecialist
- special
- speciality
- species
- specialize
References
- ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins