particular

Alternative forms

• perticular (obsolete)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (rhotic) IPA^(key): /pɚˈtɪkjəlɚ/
• (non-rhotic) IPA^(key): /pəˈtɪkjələ/
• (US, rhotic, r-dissimilation) IPA^(key): /pəˈtɪkjəlɚ/
• Hyphenation: par‧tic‧u‧lar

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

particular (comparative more particular, superlative most particular) (also non-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.

   • Shakespeare

     [Make] each particular hair to stand an end, / Like quills upon the fretful porpentine.

3. Specialised; characteristic of a specific person or thing.

   I don't appreciate your particular brand of cynicism.

   • Francis Bacon

     wheresoever one plant draweth such a particular juice out of the earth

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 Francisco and London.

   I didn't have any particular interest in the book.

   He brought no particular news.

   She was the particular belle of the party.

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.

   Women are more particular about their appearance.

7. Concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; circumstantial; precise.

   a full and particular account of an accident

8. (law) Containing a part only; limited.

   a particular estate, or one precedent to an estate in remainder

9. (law) Holding a particular estate.

   a particular tenant

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Blackstone to this entry?)

10. (logic) Forming a part of a genus; relatively limited in extension; affirmed or denied of a part of a subject.

    a particular proposition, opposed to "universal", e.g. (particular affirmative) "Some men are wise"; (particular negative) "Some men are not wise".

Noun

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, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, […], printed at London: […] Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:
     , 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.

   • Whole Duty of Man

     temporal blessings, whether such as concern the public […] or such as concern our particular

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.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin particularis.

Adjective

particular (masculine and feminine plural particulars)

1. private
2. particular

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin particulāris, corresponding to partícula +‎ -ar.

Pronunciation

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /pɐɾ.ti.ku.ˈlaɾ/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /paʁ.ˌt͡ʃi.ku.ˈlaʁ/
• Hyphenation: par‧ti‧cu‧lar

Adjective

particular m, f (plural particulares, comparable)

1. private (concerning, accessible or belonging to an individual person or group)
   • 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?

2. private (not belonging to the government)

   Synonym: privado

   Antonym: público

3. particular; specific

   Synonym: específico

4. particular; distinguished; exceptional

   Synonym: excepcional

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin particulāris.

Adjective

particular (plural particulares)

1. specific, particular
2. personal
3. private