Spĕ'cial1, a.
(spĕsh'al), a. [Fr. spécial, Pr. special, especial, Sp. & Pg. especial, It. speciale, spēziale, Lat. specialis, from species, a particular sort, kind, or quality. Cf. ESPECIAL.]
Sense 1. Pertaining to, or constituting, a species or sort.
A special idea is called by the schools a “species.” Watts.
Sense 2. Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon.
Our Savior is represented every where in Scripture as the special patron of the poor and afflicted. Atterbury.
To this special evil an improvement of style would apply a special redress. De Quincey.
Sense 3. Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress.
Sense 4. Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action or discussion; as, a special dictionary, that is, one on some particular subject.
Sense 5. Chief in excellence.
The king hath drawn The special head of all the land together. Shak.
In special, particularly. Milton.—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, &c. Williams.—Special agency, an agency confined to an individual transaction. Story.—Special bail, bail above, or to the action, sureties who undertake that, if the defendant is convicted, he shall satisfy the plaintiff, or surrender himself into custody. Tomlins. Wharton.—Special constable, one appointed for a particular occasion. Bouvier.—Special damage, a damage resulting from the act complained of, but not the necessary or natural consequence of it.—Special demurrer, 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 grace (Theol.), the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, as distinguished from common grace, which only awakens and convicts. Edwards.—Special injunction, an injunction granted on special grounds, arising out of the circumstances of the case. Daniel.—Special issue, an issue produced upon a special plea. Stephens.—Special jury, 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. Wharton.—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, a plea setting forth particular and new matter, distinguished from the general issue. Bouvier.—Special pleader, one who devotes himself to the drawing of common law pleadings, and the like. Wharton.—Special pleading, the allegation of special or new matter as distinguished from a direct denial of matter previously alleged on the other side. Bouvier. The popular denomination of the whole science of pleading. Stephens. The phrase is sometimes popularly applied to the specious, but unsound, argumentation of one whose aim is victory, and not truth. Burrill.—Special property, a qualified or limited property, as in wild animals, things found or bailed, during possession.—Special session, an extraordinary session.—Special statute or law, a private act of the legislature, such as respects a private person.—Special verdict, a special finding of the facts of the case, leaving to the court the application of the law to them. Wharton.
Synonyms—Peculiar; appropriate; specific; distinctive. See PECULIAR.