specialis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [spɛ.kiˈaː.lɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [spe.t͡ʃiˈaː.lis]^[1]

Forms

speciālis (neuter speciāle, adverb speciāliter); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin species (“appearance, kind”) + -ālis.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Seneca, in a letter on Plato's classes of being, contrasts the first, general genus with the special genera below it.^[2][3] Köbler dates Seneca 4 BC–65 AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant particular as opposed to general, specific, as in Quintilian's special questions and states of a case.^[2][5] Lewis & Short note it is post-Augustan, used for singulāris and proprius.^[5] As a noun speciālis was a close friend, as in Claudianus Mamertus, and the Historia Augusta uses it for peculiar to someone.^[3][6]

In medieval Latin it meant private or confidential, and as a noun a confidant or a druggist.^[7] British writers used in speciālī for “in particular”.^[8] English special is recorded around 1200, through Old French.^[9]

Timeline

• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of the special genera.^[2][4]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of special questions.^[5][4]
• 1st half of the 5th century AD – Claudianus Mamertus uses it of a close friend.^[3][4]
• c. 1200 – English special is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Particular, specific, special.^[2][5]
2. Peculiar to someone.^[6]
3. (Medieval Latin) Private, confidential.^[7]

Noun

1. A close friend, intimate.^[3][7]
2. (Medieval Latin) A druggist.^[7]

Word family

• specialitas

Related words

• speciēs
• English special
• English especial

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com