special English · revision 2497

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200 (Ancrene Riwle)|origins=la speciēs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈspeʃ.ᵊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|spetiale]] (later [[m|enm|speciale]]),^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|especial]], shortened, and directly [[bor|la|speciālis|t=individual, particular]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|speciēs|t=appearance; kind, sort]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) It is a [[doublet]] of [[especial]],^(Klein 1966) and related to [[species]] and [[spy]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Uncommon, exceptional: probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline gives about 1200, “granted in unusual circumstances” and “specific” as opposed to general.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From about 1300 ''special'' meant “dear, favoured” and “chosen for an important task”, and by the mid-14th century “distinguished, excellent”.^(Etymonline) 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.^(Etymonline) The noun, a special person or thing, is from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and in the 14th century it could mean a sweetheart or close friend.^(Etymonline) A ''special'' was a special train from 1866,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a special offer from 1939, and a special television programme from 1957, in American English.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Special effects'' is from 1922, at first in the theatre.^(Etymonline) ''Speciality'' is from before 1425, ''specialize'' from 1613, and ''specialist'' from 1856.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – exceptional (''Ancrene Riwle'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – favoured; noun, a special person.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – excellent.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1425 – ''speciality''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1613 – ''specialize''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1840 – additional, as in ''special edition''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1856 – ''specialist''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1866 – a special train.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1939 – a special offer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1957 – a television special.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Better or greater than usual; [[exceptional]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Distinct among others of a kind.^(AHD)

+ # Belonging to a particular person or thing; [[particular]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Having a limited or specific purpose or use.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Arranged for a particular occasion: ''a special edition''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Held in particular affection; dear.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something arranged or issued for a particular occasion, such as a train.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A featured attraction, such as a reduced price.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # A single television programme on a particular subject or performer.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[specially]]

+ * [[specialness]]

+ * [[interspecial]]

+ * [[specialism]]

+ * [[superspecial]]

+ * [[specialist]]

+ * [[speciality]]

+ * [[specialty]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[especial]]

+ * [[especially]]

+ * [[species]]

+ * [[spy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}