peculiar

¹pe·cu·liar

adjective \pi-ˈkyül-yər\

Definition of PECULIAR

1

: characteristic of only one person, group, or thing : distinctive

2

: different from the usual or normal:

a : special, particular

b : odd, curious

c : eccentric, queer

— pe·cu·liar·ly adverb

Examples of PECULIAR

1. It seems peculiar that he would leave town and not tell anybody.
2. The dog's peculiar behavior worried them.
3. She got a peculiar feeling when the phone rang.
4. She had a peculiar expression on her face.
5. As military coups go, this was a most peculiar one, bloodless, and in Bangkok at least quite popular. —Ian Buruma, New York Review, 1 Mar. 2007
6. Right about then, Ensberg got himself back on the field, where a peculiar thing happened: he stopped thinking. —Tom Friend, ESPN, 28 Aug. 2006
7. I smell again the peculiar and dynamic smell of Gillespie's science room. —Muriel Spark, Curriculum Vitae, (1992) 1993

Origin of PECULIAR

Middle English peculier, from Latin peculiaris of private property, special, from peculium private property, from pecu cattle; akin to Latin pecus cattle — more at fee

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PECULIAR

Synonyms

aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, extraordinaire, extraordinary, freak, odd, exceptional, phenomenal, preternatural, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted

Antonyms

common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary, usual

Related Words

conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, striking; bizarre, deviant, eccentric, freakish, monstrous, oddball, outlandish, quaint, strange, weird; incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable

Near Antonyms

everyday, familiar, frequent

See Synonym Discussion at characteristic, strange

²pe·cu·liar

noun \pi-ˈkyül-yər\

Definition of PECULIAR

: something exempt from ordinary jurisdiction; especially : a church or parish exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary in whose territory it lies

Origin of PECULIAR

(see ¹peculiar)

First Known Use: 1562