special
Definitions
General English
- adjective having a particular importance or use
General Science
- adjective for one particular purpose
Banking
- adjective better than usual
Marketing
- noun a product which a retailer buys for a special purpose, e.g. a premium offer
Media Studies
- noun a television programme that is not part of a network’s normal schedule
Slang
- adjective slow-witted, foolish. A playground term of abuse from the notion of children ‘with special needs’.
Travel
- noun a particular dish on a menu
Origin & History of “special”
Latin speciēs originally denoted the ‘outward aspect’, the ‘look’ of something (it was derived from specere ‘look’, source of English spectacle, spectator, spy, etc). It later evolved metaphorically to ‘type, kind’, and in that sense was adopted by English as species (16th c.) (spice is ultimately the same word). From it was derived the adjective speciālis ‘of a particular type’, which has given English special (especial (14th c.) came via Old French especial). other derivatives have given English specific (17th c.), specify (13th c.), specimen (17th c.), and specious (17th c.) (from Latin speciōsus ‘good-looking’).
