particular

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Contents

English [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (UK) IPA: /pəˈtɪk.jə.lə(ɹ)/, X-SAMPA: /p@"tIk.j@.l@(r\)/
  • (US) IPA: /pɜɹˈtɪkjəlɜɹ/, X-SAMPA: /p3r\"tIkj@l3r\/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)

Etymology [edit]

From Anglo-Norman particuler, Middle French particuler, particulier, and their source, Late Latin particularis (“partial; separate, individual”), from Latin particula (“(small) part”). Compare particle.

Adjective [edit]

particular (not comparable)

  1. (obsolete) Pertaining only to a part of something; partial.
  2. Specific; discrete; concrete.
    I couldn't find the particular model you asked for, but I hope this one will do.
    We knew it was named after John Smith, but nobody knows which particular John Smith.
  3. Specialised; characteristic of a specific person or thing.
    I don't appreciate your particular brand of cynicism.
  4. (obsolete) Known only to an individual person or group; confidential.
    • 1623, William Shakespeare, King Lear, V.1:
      or these domesticke and particular broiles, Are not the question heere.
  5. Distinguished in some way; special (often in negative constructions).
    My five favorite places are, in no particular order, New York, Chicago, Paris, San Fransisco and London.
    I didn't have any particular interest in the book.
  6. (comparable) Of a person, concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; precise; fastidious.
    He is very particular about his food and if it isn't cooked to perfection he will send it back.

Synonyms [edit]

Antonyms [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Related terms [edit]

  • particulars (certain individuals - not used in singular)

Translations [edit]

specific; discrete; concrete; a part or portion of something
specialised; characteristic of a specific person or thing
distinguished in some way; special
concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; precise; fastidious
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

External links [edit]

Noun [edit]

particular (plural particulars)

  1. A small individual part of something larger; a detail, a point. [from 15th c.]
  2. (obsolete) A person's own individual case. [16th-19th c.]
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.16:
      Since philosophy could never find any way for tranquillity that might be generally good, let every man in his particular seeke for it.
  3. (now philosophy, chiefly in plural) A particular case; an individual thing as opposed to a whole class. (Opposed to generals, universals.) [from 17th c.]
    • 1912, Bertrand Russel, The Problems of Philosophy, Chapter 9:
      When we examine common words, we find that, broadly speaking, proper names stand for particulars, while other substantives, adjectives, prepositions, and verbs stand for universals.

Related terms [edit]

Statistics [edit]

Portuguese [edit]

Adjective [edit]

particular m and f (plural particulares; comparable)

  1. private
    • 2003, Lya Wyler (translator), J. K. Rowling (English author), Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Rocco, page 400:
      Não devia estar num quarto particular?
      Shouldn't he be in a private room?

Inflection [edit]

  Inflection of the Portuguese adjective particular
singular plural
masculine feminine masculine feminine
positive particular particulares
comparative mais particular mais particulares
superlative o mais particular
particularíssimo		 a mais particular
particularíssima		 os mais particulares
particularíssimos		 as mais particulares
particularíssimas

Spanish [edit]

Adjective [edit]

particular m and f (plural particulares)

  1. specific, particular
  2. personal
  3. private
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