special

A1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈspɛʃ.əl/ UK /ˈspɛʃ.əl/ See IPA manual

Freq #570

Meanings

1

adj
Better, more important, or different from what is usual or normal.

We paid special attention to the new students.
2

adj
Made or kept for a particular purpose.

You need a special kind of paint for this job.
3

noun
A product or meal offered at a lower price for a limited time.

They're having a special on pork chops this week.
4

noun
A television program made about one particular person, topic, or event.

We watched a Christmas special on TV last night.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · better, more important, or... particular

Opposites

commoncommon-or-gardeneveryday generalnonspecialordinaryrun-of-the-millusual

Word family

Forms specials

Derived forms antispecialgenderspecialhyperspecialinterspecialspecial-casespecialisation specialise specialism specialist speciality specially specialness

Related forms especial especially

Appears in

Phrases (5)

See all

special offer
a temporary reduction in price or an added incentive to encourage purchase

Adjective + noun
special agent
a law-enforcement or intelligence officer with broad investigative powers

Adjective + noun
special attention
extra care or focus given to something particular

Adjective + noun
special care
Particular attention given to specific or unusual needs.

Adjective + noun
special mention
particular recognition given to someone or something noteworthy

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.

*speḱ- Proto-Indo-European *special Middle English especial Old French speciālis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# special

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈspɛʃ.əl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈspɛʃ.əl/
**Frequency rank:** 570

## Meanings
1. Better, more important, or different from what is usual or normal.
2. Made or kept for a particular purpose.
3. A product or meal offered at a lower price for a limited time.
4. A television program made about one particular person, topic, or event.

## Examples
- We paid special attention to the new students.
- You need a special kind of paint for this job.
- They're having a special on pork chops this week.
- We watched a Christmas special on TV last night.

## Antonyms
- common
- common-or-garden
- everyday
- general
- nonspecial
- ordinary
- run-of-the-mill
- usual

## Derived Forms
- antispecial
- genderspecial
- hyperspecial
- interspecial
- special-case
- specialisation
- specialise
- specialism
- specialist
- speciality
- specially
- specialness

## Related Forms
- especial
- especially

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *speḱ-
- Root: *special
- Root: especial
- Root: speciālis
- Affix: -ial - relating to

## Etymology
From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.

## AI Etymology
Special is from Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial. Important forms in the word's history include Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-, Middle English *special, Old French especial, Latin speciālis. In current use it includes senses such as Better, more important, or different from what is usual or normal and Made or kept for a particular purpose.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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