| 释义 |
peculiarity|pɪkjuːlɪˈærɪtɪ|
[f. peculiar + -ity; cf. late L. pecūliāritās (St. Gregory).]
The quality or condition of being peculiar.
†1. The condition or fact of belonging exclusively to oneself; exclusive possession; private ownership.
1610Bp. Hall Epist. v. ii. 24 What neede we to disclaime all peculiarity in goods?
†b. spec. The condition of being God's peculiar people. Obs.
1661Baxter Mor. Prognost. ii. xlviii. 62 Some of them [Jews] Re-established in their own Land: But not to their antient peculiarity, or policy and Law. 1777Fletcher Bible Calvinism Wks. 1795 IV. 255 If God had made his covenants of peculiarity with all mankind, would they not have ceased to be peculiar?
2. The quality of being peculiar to or characteristic of a single person or thing; also, an instance of this, that which is peculiar to a single person or thing; a distinguishing or special characteristic.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. ii. v. 90 That a piece of opium will dead the force and blow [of a bullet]..I finde herein no such peculiarity, no more then in any gumme or viscose body. 1726Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 78/2 We shall speak first of those things wherein they agree; and of their peculiarities afterwards. 1850McCosh Div. Govt. ii. i. (1874) 114 The peculiarity of a miracle is, that it has not a cause in the natural powers operating in the Cosmos. 1853J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. i. ii. 61 It is a peculiarity of Asia that its regions are either very hot or very cold.
†3. A particular liking or regard; a partiality.
1687Boyle Martyrd. Theodora xi. (1703) 152 He could discern in her Breast such a resentment of his Services, as..imply'd a peculiarity for his Person. 1847Emerson Repr. Men, Shaks. Wks. (Bohn) I. 362 Shakespeare has no peculiarity, no importunate topic; but all is duly given.
†b. Special attentiveness to a person; cf. particularity 7. Obs.
1748Richardson Clarissa iii, I had not value enough for him to treat him with peculiarity either by smiles or frowns.
4. The quality of being sui generis or unlike others; singularity, uncommonness, oddity; also, an instance of this, an odd trait or characteristic.
1751Ld. Orrery Remarks Swift (1752) 17 She died towards the end of January..absolutely destroyed by the peculiarity of her fate. 1777Boswell Johnson 17 Sept., I said, in writing a life, a man's peculiarities should be mentioned, because they mark his character. 1817Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) II. i. 18 There is another very singular peculiarity about Mr. Talfourd; he can't spell. 1865R. W. Dale Jew. Temp. xvi. (1877) 179 You will have noticed the peculiarity of the expression.
†5. = peculiarism: cf. peculiar B. 7 a. rare.
1838Bp. Wilberforce in A. R. Ashwell Life (1879) I. iv. 114 They will disgust some well-intentioned Churchmen by a fanciful imitation of antiquity, and drive them into lower depths of ‘Peculiarity’. |