peculiar
Etymology

From Latin pecūliāris, from pecūlium, from pecus.

Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /pɪˈkjuː.li.ə/, /pəˈkjuː.li.ə/
  • (America) IPA: /pɪˈkjul.jɚ/, /pəˈkjul.jɚ/
  • (Australia) IPA: /pɪˈkjʉː.li.ə/
Adjective

peculiar

  1. Out of the ordinary; odd; strange; unusual.
    Synonyms: odd, strange, uncommon, unusual
    Antonyms: common, mediocre, ordinary, usual
    The sky had a peculiar appearance before the storm.
    It would be rather peculiar to see a kangaroo hopping down a city street.
  2. Common or usual for a certain place or circumstance; specific or particular.
    Synonyms: specific
    Antonyms: common, general, universal
    Kangaroos are peculiar to Australia.
    • 1726 October 27, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Great Love of His Native Country. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver's Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC ↗, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 262 ↗:
      And it was peculiar in their Temper, that they were fonder of what they could get by Rapine or Stealth at a greater diſtance, than much better Food provided for them at home.
  3. (dated) One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not shared or possessed by others.
  4. (dated) Particular; individual; special; appropriate.
Synonyms Antonyms
  • (antonym(s) of “out of the ordinary”): see also Thesaurus:normal
  • (antonym(s) of “common or usual in a particular place or circumstance”): see also Thesaurus:generic
Translations Translations Noun

peculiar (plural peculiars)

  1. That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.
    • before 1716, Robert South, Twelve Sermons
      If anything can legalize revenge, it should be injury from an extremely obliged person; but revenge is so absolutely the peculiar of heaven.
  2. (UK, canon law) an ecclesiastical district, parish, chapel or church outside the jurisdiction of the bishop of the diocese in which it is situated.



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