peculiar

Peculiar is defined as something that is different and unusual.

(adjective)

An example of peculiar is a state fair sideshow with strange people.

The definition of peculiar is something important or of special interest.

(adjective)

An example of peculiar is the specific picture that gets pointed out on a tour.

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See peculiar in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. of only one person, thing, group, country, etc.; distinctive; exclusive
  2. particular; unique; special: a matter of peculiar interest
  3. out of the ordinary; queer; odd; strange

Origin: ME peculier < L peculiaris < peculium: see peculate

noun

  1. something belonging to one only, as a privilege
  2. Brit. a church or parish under a jurisdiction other than that of the diocese in which it is located

Related Forms:

See peculiar in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Unusual or eccentric; odd.
  2. Distinct from all others. See Synonyms at strange.
  3. Belonging distinctively or primarily to one person, group, or kind; special or unique: rights peculiar to the rich; a species peculiar to this area.
noun
  1. A privilege or property that is exclusively one's own.
  2. Chiefly British A church or parish under the jurisdiction of a diocese different from that in which it lies.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English peculier, personal

Origin: , from Latin pecūliāris

Origin: , from pecūlium, private property; see peku- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • pe·cuˈliar·ly adverb

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