English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English particuler, from Anglo-Norman particuler, Middle French particuler, particulier, from Late Latin particularis (partial; separate, individual), from Latin particula ((small) part). Equivalent to particle +‎ -ar. Compare particle.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

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

  1. (obsolete) Pertaining only to a part of something; partial.
  2. Specific; discrete; concrete.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:specific
    Antonym: general
    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.
    Synonyms: optimized, specialistic
    I don't appreciate your particular brand of cynicism.
    • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Gardens”, in The Essayes [], 3rd edition, London: [] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
      wheresoever one plant draweth such a particular juice out of the earth
  4. (obsolete) Known only to an individual person or group; confidential.
  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; fastidious.
    Synonyms: minute, precise, fastidious; see also Thesaurus:fastidious
    He is very particular about his food and if it isn't cooked to perfection he will send it back.
    These women are more particular about their appearance.
    • 1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed[1]:
      There is a scraper as well as a mat, and Mrs. Challenger is most particular.
  7. Concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; circumstantial; precise.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:meticulous
    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.
  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".

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Further reading edit

Noun edit

particular (plural particulars)

  1. A small individual part of something larger; a detail, a point. [from 15th c.]
    • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “Several Contrivances of the Author to Please the King and Queen. []”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. [] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: [] Benj[amin] Motte, [], →OCLC, part II (A Voyage to Brobdingnag), page 259:
      I did not omit even our Sports and Paſtimes, or any other Particular which I thought might redound to the Honour of my Country.
  2. (obsolete) A person's own individual case. [16th–19th c.]
  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.

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Catalan edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin particulāris.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

particular m or f (masculine and feminine plural particulars)

  1. private
  2. particular

Derived terms edit

Noun edit

particular m (plural particulars)

  1. individual
  2. subject, matter, issue

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

Portuguese edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

 
 

  • Hyphenation: par‧ti‧cu‧lar

Adjective edit

particular m or f (plural particulares, comparable, comparative mais particular, superlative o mais particular or particularíssimo)

  1. private (concerning, accessible or belonging to an individual person or group)
  2. private (not belonging to the government)
    Synonym: privado
    Antonym: público
  3. particular; specific
    Synonym: específico
  4. particular; distinguished; exceptional
    Synonym: excepcional

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin particularis or German partikular. By surface analysis, particulă +‎ -ar.

Adjective edit

particular m or n (feminine singular particulară, masculine plural particulari, feminine and neuter plural particulare)

  1. private

Declension edit

Noun edit

particular m (plural particulari)

  1. private person

Declension edit

Spanish edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin particulāris.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /paɾtikuˈlaɾ/ [paɾ.t̪i.kuˈlaɾ]
  • Rhymes: -aɾ
  • Syllabification: par‧ti‧cu‧lar

Adjective edit

particular m or f (masculine and feminine plural particulares)

  1. specific, particular
    Synonyms: concreto, específico
  2. peculiar, strange
    Synonyms: raro, extraño
  3. personal
    Synonym: personal
  4. private
    Synonym: privado

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Noun edit

particular m (plural particulares)

  1. individual, private citizen

Further reading edit