peculiar

adjective

1. 1

   Out of the ordinary; odd; strange; unusual.

   The sky had a peculiar appearance before the storm.

   It would be rather peculiar to see a kangaroo hopping down a city street.

   I saw nothing peculiar in his conduct, and thought that his arrangement of the ballot box was perfect.

   "Wasn't it peculiar," I heard mother say, "How he wouldn't talk about himself?" "Peculiar?" said father. "Well, yes, in a way." "Everything about him is peculiar." Mother sounded as if she was stirred up and interested. "I never saw a man quite like him before."

2. 2

   Common or usual for a certain place or circumstance; specific or particular.

   Kangaroos are peculiar to Australia.

   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.

   This philosopher found his ideas especially in all that is practical,^([29]) that is, which rests upon freedom, which in its turn ranks under cognitions that are the peculiar product of reason.

   As soon as that operation has taken place, the food is passed down to the stomach, and there it is mixed with the chemical fluid called the gastric juice, a substance which has the peculiar property of making soluble and dissolving out the nutritious matter in the grass, and leaving behind those parts which are not nutritious;

3. 3

   datedOne's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not shared or possessed by others.

   Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

   hymns […] that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself

4. 4

   datedParticular; individual; special; appropriate.

   while each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat

   My fate is Juno's most peculiar care.

noun

1. 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. 2

   an ecclesiastical district, parish, chapel or church outside the jurisdiction of the bishop of the diocese in which it is situated.

Forms

plural

peculiars

comparative

more peculiar

superlative

most peculiar