special

English

/ˈspɛ.ʃəl/

adj
Definitions
  • Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.
  • Of particular personal interest or value; dear; beloved.
  • (euphemistic) Of or related to learning learning or intellectual intellectual disabilities.
  • Constituting or relating to a species.
  • Chief in excellence.
  • (military) Of or related to unconventional warfare, as in "special forces" and "special operations".

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English *special derived from Old French especial derived from Latin specialis.

Origin

Latin

specialis

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms