Pe*cul"iar (?), a. [L.
peculiaris, fr. peculium private property, akin to
pecunia money: cf. OF. peculier. See Pecuniary.]
1. One's own; belonging solely or especially to
an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or
characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in
participation.
And purify unto himself a peculiar
people.
Titus ii. 14.
Hymns . . . that Christianity hath peculiar unto
itself.
Hooker.
2. Particular; individual; special;
appropriate.
While each peculiar power forgoes his wonted
seat.
Milton.
My fate is Juno's most peculiar
care.
Dryden.
3. Unusual; singular; rare; strange; as, the
sky had a peculiarappearance.
Syn. -- Peculiar, Special, Especial.
Peculiar is from the Roman peculium, which was a thing
emphatically and distinctively one's own, and hence was dear. The
former sense always belongs to peculiar (as, a peculiar
style, peculiar manners, etc.), and usually so much of the
latter as to involve feelings of interest; as, peculiar care,
watchfulness, satisfaction, etc. Nothing of this kind belongs to
special and especial. They mark simply the relation of
species to genus, and denote that there is something in
this case more than ordinary; as, a special act of Congress;
especial pains, etc.
Beauty, which, either walking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces.
Milton.
For naught so vile that on the earth doth live,
But to the earth some special good doth give.
Shak.
Pe*cul"iar, n. 1.
That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a
prerogative; a characteristic.
Revenge is . . . the peculiar of
Heaven.
South.
2. (Eng. Canon Law) A particular parish
or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the
ordinary.
Court of Peculiars (Eng. Law), a
branch of the Court of Arches having cognizance of the affairs of
peculiars. Blackstone. -- Dean of
peculiars. See under Dean, 1.
