special

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.

• enPR: spĕʹshəl, IPA^(key): /ˈspɛʃ.əl/

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• Rhymes: -ɛʃəl

special (comparative more special or specialer, superlative most special or specialest)

1. Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.

   a special episode of a television series

   her special blend of spices

   Why are you standing up in your seat? What are you, special?

   • 2004, George Carlin, “PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT”, in When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?‎, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 132:

     EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL
     An empty and meaningless sentiment. What about every adult? Isn't every adult special? And if not, then at what age does a person go from being special to being not-so-special? And if every adult is also special, then that means all people are special and the idea has no meaning.

2. Of particular value or interest; dear; beloved.

   Everyone is special to someone.

   his special friend of many years, Bill

3. (euphemistic) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.

   special education, special needs

   He goes to a special school.

   1. (by extension, derogatory, often offensive) Stupid, lacking intelligence.

      What do you mean, you don't understand the sign? What are you, special?

4. Constituting or relating to a species.

   Synonym: specific

   Having seven dark spots is a special property unique to Coccinella septempunctata.

5. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) Chief in excellence.
   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:

     The king hath drawn / The special head of all the land together.

6. (military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.

   special forces, special operations

7. (law) Appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.

   For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.

   After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.

8. (euphemistic) Containing drugs, especially marijuana.
   • 2012 November 1, Klyde, How To Hide The Smell Of Weed, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 9:

     This book will help you to  […] • Cook with the confidence that the neighbors won't find out your brownies are 'special' • Never again worry about getting caught growing because someone smelled your garden

   • 2020 March 19, I. D. Oro, Mexico Wall 130, I. D. Oro, page 136:

     Then with the rest of the money I use it to pay for the building, maintenance, utilities, up keep, and the special brownies! In addition, I have bongs that the parishioners can use if they forget to bring their own bongs for smoking.

   • 2021 June 15, Laura Heffernan, Sweet Reality, Empress Books:

     “Jen, when someone offers you 'special' brownies or 'funny' brownies, they have pot in them. You're totally high right now.” Me, high? No way! No one ever offered the nerdy girl drugs. And I'd never, ever accept them.

   • 2021 September 23, Gillian A. Corsiatto, Duck Light, FriesenPress, →ISBN, page 5:

     “They're special brownies,” said Rosie. Special brownies! Of course they were special! They were perfect and delicious! What a great word to describe them! Rosie caught on that Lulu had not caught on. “Special brownies. Happy brownies.  […] They're the ones that have weed in them.”

• (antonym(s) of “distinguished by a unique or unusual quality”): common, common-or-garden, everyday, nonspecial, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, usual

special (plural specials)

1. A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.

   Synonym: offer

   We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.

2. One of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price at a restaurant.

   Today's special is our tuna melt on rye.

3. (broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.

   Did you see the Christmas special?

4. (British, colloquial) A special constable.
   • 1919, Fred W. Leigh, Charles Collins (lyrics and music), “My Old Man”‎performed by Marie Lloyd:

     And you can't trust a "Special" like the old-time copper when you can't find your way home.

5. Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.

   Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.

6. Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
7. (journalism) A correspondent; a journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
8. (journalism) A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
9. (theater) A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
   • 2009, Steven Shelley, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, page 132:

     In addition to followspots, there will be three frontlight specials on Autoyokes hung on the truss to provide frontlight specials.

   • 2009, Jennifer Bringle, Lighting, page 23:

     The first is a special—a single lighting instrument that lights a particular spot on the stage. Specials generally have no color, or a more saturated color, allowing them to stand out through other lighting onstage.

special (third-person singular simple present specials, present participle specialing or specialling, simple past and past participle specialed or specialled)

1. (nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.
   • 1905, Shadyside Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Annual Report‎, page 27:

     We have not sent our pupils out on private duty except a very few times, but they have an unusual amount of specialing to do inside.

   • 2015 July 7, Jo-Ann Giandinoto, Karen-leigh Edward, “The phenomenon of co-morbid physical and mental illness in acute medical care: the lived experience of Australian health professionals”, in BMC Research Notes‎, volume 8, →DOI:

     Participant three described their personal interest in mental health care: “I have an interest in mental health but I have found that other staff on the surgical ward who have been there for a while… often say I hate specialling these patients…”

• epicals, piacles, plaices

Borrowed from English special.

• (Netherlands) IPA^(key): /ˈspɛ.ʃɔl/, /ˈspɛ.ʃɑl/

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• Hyphenation: spe‧ci‧al

special m (plural specials)

1. A special broadcast episode.

• speciaal

special m (feminine singular speciale, masculine plural speciaulx, feminine plural speciales)

1. special; extraordinary; beyond what is usual

Borrowed from French spécial, from Latin specialis.

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special m or n (feminine singular specială, masculine plural speciali, feminine and neuter plural speciale)

1. special

special c

1. a large-scale map folded into the main map or nautical chart

   Synonym: specialkarta

special

1. (almost exclusively in compounds) special

   specialfall

   special case

• specialare
• specialitet (“specialty”)
• speciell (“special”)

• special in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• special in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• special in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)