peculiar

[pi-kyool-yer] /pɪˈkyul yər/
adjective
1.
strange; queer; odd:
peculiar happenings.
2.
uncommon; unusual:
the peculiar hobby of stuffing and mounting bats.
3.
distinctive in nature or character from others.
4.
belonging characteristically (usually followed by to):
an expression peculiar to Canadians.
5.
belonging exclusively to some person, group, or thing:
the peculiar properties of a drug.
6.
Astronomy. designating a star or galaxy with special properties that deviates from others of its spectral type or galaxy class.
noun
7.
a property or privilege belonging exclusively or characteristically to a person.
8.
British. a particular parish or church that is exempted from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop in whose diocese it lies and is governed by another.
9.
peculiars, Also called arbitraries. British Printing. special characters not generally included in standard type fonts, as phonetic symbols, mathematical symbols, etc.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English; < Latin pecūliāris as one's own, equivalent to pecūli(um) property (derivative of pecū flock, farm animals; akin to pecus cattle (see fee)) + -āris -ar1
Related forms
peculiarly, adverb
unpeculiar, adjective
unpeculiarly, adverb
Synonyms
1. eccentric, bizarre. See strange. 2. extraordinary, singular, exceptional. 5. individual, personal, particular, special, unique.
Antonyms
2, 5. common.
Examples from the web for peculiar
  • The snakes, though, don't seem to be complaining about their peculiar glands.
  • In the tropical forests of Madagascar, there lives a very peculiar kind of bat.
  • For this task, he was peculiarly well equipped.
  • Winter stoneflies are peculiar little creatures.
  • But his voice was most peculiar and characteristic.
  • Some ideas for musicals are peculiar but brilliant.
  • It's a peculiar sort of beauty.
  • It's not a peculiar outcome, it is simply the outcome.
  • It's a peculiar task, this job of trying to make bland tomatoes taste good.
  • Call me peculiar, but improbable freak muscles are not attractive.
British Dictionary definitions for peculiar

peculiar

/pɪˈkjuːlɪə/
adjective
1.
strange or unusual; odd: a peculiar individual, a peculiar idea
2.
distinct from others; special
3.
(postpositive) foll by to. belonging characteristically or exclusively (to): peculiar to North America
noun
4.
(printing) Also called arbitrary. a special sort, esp an accented letter
5.
(Church of England) a church or parish that is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary in whose diocese it lies
Derived Forms
peculiarly, adverb
Word Origin
C15: from Latin pecūliāris concerning private property, from pecūlium, literally: property in cattle, from pecus cattle
Word Origin and History for peculiar
adj.

mid-15c., "belonging exclusively to one person," from Latin peculiaris "of one's own (property)," from peculium "private property," literally "property in cattle" (in ancient times the most important form of property), from pecu "cattle, flock," related to pecus "cattle" (see pecuniary). Meaning "unusual" is first attested c.1600 (earlier "distinguished, special," 1580s; for sense development, cf. idiom). Related: Peculiarly.

peculiar in the Bible

as used in the phrase "peculiar people" in 1 Pet. 2:9, is derived from the Lat. peculium, and denotes, as rendered in the Revised Version ("a people for God's own possession"), a special possession or property. The church is the "property" of God, his "purchased possession" (Eph. 1:14; R.V., "God's own possession").