special

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See also: spécial

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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special (comparative more special or specialer, superlative most special or specialest)

  1. Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.
    a special episode of a television series
    her special blend of spices
    Why are you standing up in your seat? What are you, special?
  2. Of particular value or interest; dear; beloved.
    Everyone is special to someone.
    his special friend of many years, Bill
  3. (euphemistic) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
    special education, special needs
    He goes to a special school.
    1. (by extension, derogatory, often offensive) Stupid, lacking intelligence.
      What do you mean, you don't understand the sign? What are you, special?
  4. Constituting or relating to a species.
    Synonym: specific
    Having seven dark spots is a special property unique to Coccinella septempunctata.
  5. (military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.
    special forces, special operations
  6. (law) Appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
    For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.
    After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.
  7. (euphemistic) Containing drugs, especially marijuana.
    • 2012 November 1, Klyde, How To Hide The Smell Of Weed, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 9:
      This book will help you to  […] • Cook with the confidence that the neighbors won't find out your brownies are 'special' • Never again worry about getting caught growing because someone smelled your garden
    • 2020 March 19, I. D. Oro, Mexico Wall 130, I. D. Oro, page 136:
      Then with the rest of the money I use it to pay for the building, maintenance, utilities, up keep, and the special brownies! In addition, I have bongs that the parishioners can use if they forget to bring their own bongs for smoking.
    • 2021 June 15, Laura Heffernan, Sweet Reality, Empress Books:
      “Jen, when someone offers you 'special' brownies or 'funny' brownies, they have pot in them. You're totally high right now.” Me, high? No way! No one ever offered the nerdy girl drugs. And I'd never, ever accept them.
    • 2021 September 23, Gillian A. Corsiatto, Duck Light, FriesenPress, →ISBN, page 5:
      “They're special brownies,” said Rosie. Special brownies! Of course they were special! They were perfect and delicious! What a great word to describe them! Rosie caught on that Lulu had not caught on. “Special brownies. Happy brownies.  […] They're the ones that have weed in them.”

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Noun

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special (plural specials)

  1. A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.
    Synonym: offer
    We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.
  2. One of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price at a restaurant.
    Today's special is our tuna melt on rye.
  3. (broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.
    Did you see the Christmas special?
  4. (British, colloquial) A special constable.
  5. Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
    Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.
  6. Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
  7. (journalism) A correspondent; a journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
  8. (journalism) A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
  9. (theater) A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
    • 2009, Steven Shelley, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, page 132:
      In addition to followspots, there will be three frontlight specials on Autoyokes hung on the truss to provide frontlight specials.
    • 2009, Jennifer Bringle, Lighting, page 23:
      The first is a special—a single lighting instrument that lights a particular spot on the stage. Specials generally have no color, or a more saturated color, allowing them to stand out through other lighting onstage.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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special (third-person singular simple present specials, present participle specialing or specialling, simple past and past participle specialed or specialled)

  1. (nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.
    • 1905, Shadyside Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Annual Report‎[3], page 27:
      We have not sent our pupils out on private duty except a very few times, but they have an unusual amount of specialing to do inside.
    • 2015 July 7, Jo-Ann Giandinoto, Karen-leigh Edward, “The phenomenon of co-morbid physical and mental illness in acute medical care: the lived experience of Australian health professionals”, in BMC Research Notes‎[4], volume 8, →DOI:
      Participant three described their personal interest in mental health care: “I have an interest in mental health but I have found that other staff on the surgical ward who have been there for a while… often say I hate specialling these patients…”

Anagrams

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Dutch

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English special.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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special m (plural specials)

  1. a special broadcast episode
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Middle French

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Adjective

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special m (feminine singular speciale, masculine plural speciaulx, feminine plural speciales)

  1. special; extraordinary; beyond what is usual

Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French spécial, from Latin specialis.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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special m or n (feminine singular specială, masculine plural speciali, feminine and neuter plural speciale)

  1. special

Declension

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singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative/
accusative 		indefinite special specială speciali speciale
definite specialul speciala specialii specialele
genitive/
dative 		indefinite special speciale speciali speciale
definite specialului specialei specialilor specialelor

Swedish

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Noun

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special c

  1. a large-scale map folded into the main map or nautical chart
    Synonym: specialkarta

Declension

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Declension of special
nominative genitive
singular indefinite special specials
definite specialen specialens
plural indefinite specialer specialers
definite specialerna specialernas

Adjective

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special

  1. (almost exclusively in compounds) special
    specialfall
    special case

Derived terms

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See also

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References

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