a. [ L. specialis, fr. species a particular sort, kind, or quality: cf. F. spécial. See Species, and cf. Especial. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort. [ 1913 Webster ]

A special is called by the schools a “species”. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our Savior is represented everywhere in Scripture as the special patron of the poor and the afficted. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

To this special evil an improvement of style would apply a special redress. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose, occasion, or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress; a special sermon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action, investigation, or discussion; as, a special dictionary of commercial terms; a special branch of study. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Chief in excellence. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The king hath drawn
The special head of all the land together. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Special administration (Law), an administration limited to certain specified effects or acts, or one granted during a particular time or the existence of a special cause, as during a controversy respecting the probate of a will, or the right of administration, etc. --
Special agency, an agency confined to some particular matter. --
Special bail,
Bail above, or
Bail to the action (Law), sureties who undertake that, if the defendant is convicted, he shall satisfy the plaintiff, or surrender himself into custody. Tomlins. Wharton (Law Dict.). --
Special constable. See under Constable. Bouvier. --
Special damage (Law), a damage resulting from the act complained of, as a natural, but not the necessary, consequence of it. --
Special demurrer (Law), a demurrer for some defect of form in the opposite party pleading, in which the cause of demurrer is particularly stated. --
Special deposit, a deposit made of a specific thing to be kept distinct from others. --
Special homology. (Biol.) See under Homology. --
Special injuction (Law), an injuction granted on special grounds, arising of the circumstances of the case. Daniell. --
Special issue (Law), an issue produced upon a special plea. Stephen. --
Special jury (Law), a jury consisting of persons of some particular calling, station, or qualification, which is called upon motion of either party when the cause is supposed to require it; a struck jury. --
Special orders (Mil.), orders which do not concern, and are not published to, the whole command, such as those relating to the movement of a particular corps, a detail, a temporary camp, etc. --
Special partner, a limited partner; a partner with a limited or restricted responsibility; -- unknown at common law. --
Special partnership, a limited or particular partnership; -- a term sometimes applied to a partnership in a particular business, operation, or adventure. --
Special plea in bar (Law), a plea setting forth particular and new matter, distinguished from the general issue. Bouvier. --
Special pleader (Law), originally, a counsel who devoted himself to drawing special counts and pleas; in a wider sense, a lawyer who draws pleadings. --
Special pleading (Law), the allegation of special or new matter, as distingiushed from a direct denial of matter previously alleged on the side. Bouvier. The popular denomination of the whole science of pleading. Stephen. The phrase is sometimes popularly applied to the specious, but unsound, argumentation of one whose aim is victory, and not truth. Burrill. --
Special property (Law), a qualified or limited ownership possession, as in wild animals, things found or bailed. --
Special session, an extraordinary session; a session at an unusual time or for an unusual purpose; as, a special session of Congress or of a legislature. --
Special statute, or
Special law, an act of the legislature which has reference to a particular person, place, or interest; a private law; -- in distinction from a general law or public law. --
Special verdict (Law), a special finding of the facts of the case, leaving to the court the application of the law to them. Wharton (Law Dict.). [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Peculiar; appropriate; specific; dictinctive; particular; exceptional; singular. See Peculiar. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A particular. [ Obs. ] Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One appointed for a special service or occasion. [ 1913 Webster ]

In special, specially; in particular. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Devotion to a particular and restricted part or branch of knowledge, art, or science; as, medical specialism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who devotes himself to some specialty; as, a medical specialist, one who devotes himself to diseases of particular parts of the body, as the eye, the ear, the nerves, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Specialities [ See Special, and Specialty. ] 1. A particular or peculiar case; a particularity. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) See Specialty, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The special or peculiar mark or characteristic of a person or thing; that for which a person is specially distinguished; an object of special attention; a special occupation or object of attention; a specialty. [ 1913 Webster ]

On these two general heads all other specialities are depedent. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strive, while improving your one talent, to enrich your whole capital as a man. It is in this way that you escape from the wretched narrow-mindedness which is the characteristic of every one who cultivates his speciality. Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

We 'll say, instead, the inconsequent creature man, -
For that'a his speciality. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

Think of this, sir, . . . remote from the impulses of passion, and apart from the specialities -- if I may use that strong remark -- of prejudice. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An attribute or quality peculiar to a species. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of specializing, or the state of being spezialized. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) The setting apart of a particular organ for the performance of a particular function. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To mention specially; to particularize. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To apply to some specialty or limited object; to assign to a specific use; as, specialized knowledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) To supply with an organ or organs having a special function or functions. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a special manner; particularly; especially. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. For a particular purpose; as, a meeting of the legislature is specially summoned. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Specialties [ F. spécialité. Cf. Speciality. ] 1. Particularity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Specialty of rule hath been neglected. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A particular or peculiar case. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) A contract or obligation under seal; a contract by deed; a writing, under seal, given as security for a debt particularly specified. Chitty. Bouvier. Wharton (Law Dict.). [ 1913 Webster ]

Let specialties be therefore drawn between us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That for which a person is distinguished, in which he is specially versed, or which he makes an object of special attention; a speciality. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men of boundless knowledge, like Humbold, must have had once their specialty, their pet subject. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]