particularizev.
/pəˈtɪkjᵿlərʌɪz/, U.S. /pə(r)ˈtɪkjələˌraɪz/, /pɑrˈtɪkjələˌraɪz/ 1. transitive. To make particular as opposed to general; to apply or restrict to a particular thing or class.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or restricted in application > apply or restrict specifically to something [verb (transitive)]
propera1398
particularize1588
specificate1631
1588 J. Harvey Discoursiue Probl. conc. Prophesies 44 And who can directly discusse, or particularize the æquiuocation, and ouer-great generalitie of Interregni, and Auiti sanguinis propago?
1640 W. Habington Queene of Arragon ii. i San. You'le then repent your pride. Clean. O never, never. If you'le particularize your vowes to me.
1677 G. Hickes in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. IV. 41 To particularise the general information..I have sent you the names of the most considerable and mischievous of them.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 72/1 The usual effect of adjectives..is to modify or particularise a general term.
1876 F. H. Bradley Ethical Stud. iv. 135 You can not particularize a definition so as to exhaust any sensible object.
1927 V. Woolf To Lighthouse iii. iii. 240 The vast, the general question which was apt to particularise itself at such moments as these.
1979 F. Young in M. Goulder Incarnation & Myth iv. 103 The cross particularizes this involvement [sc. of god with human tragedy] for us.
2.
a. transitive. To describe or mention particularly; to name or state specially or one by one; to treat individually or in detail; to single out; to specify.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > make specific [verb (transitive)] > specify or state precisely
notea1325
specifyc1340
definec1374
assign1377
expressc1400
stevenc1425
condescend1510
particulate1579
particularize1593
particular1605
specialize1616
specificate1649
individualize1655
designate1677
determinate1681
precise1793
precisionize1847
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 113 I dare not Particularise her Description according to my conceit of her beaudesert.
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. V2v Except he particularize and stake downe the verie words.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. i. 20 But they thinke we are too deere, the leannesse that afflicts vs, the obiect of our misery, is as an inuentory to particularize their abundance, our sufferance is a gaine to them. View more context for this quotation
1674 in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. 161 I doe beleeve the Howse of Commons will Vote the King a Supply..but not particularise the sume.
a1689 W. Cleland Coll. Poems (1697) 64 I think I need not be precise, Each thing to particularise.
1741 Earl of Orrery Let. 7 July in J. Swift Lett. (1768) IV. 241 In mentioning your friends, I must particularize Mr. Pope.
1775 T. Everard Let. 24 Aug. in John Norton & Sons (1968) 387 It is unnecessary to particularize our Public Affairs here you will be fully informed from the Gazettes.
1786 E. Burke Let. 7 Dec. in E. C. Mossner & I. S. Ross Corr. A. Smith (1977) cclxiii. 298 I do not wish you to particularise any Service to Mr Burke but a general, and (as you will make it,) strong recommendation.
1816 B. Waterhouse Jrnl. Young Man Mass. (1911) xi. 367 Could I allow myself to particularise the conduct of the fair sex, who crowd on board euery recently arrived ship,..my readers would confess that few scenes of the kind could exceed it.
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy Pref. 6 Various causes, needless to particularise here.
1884 Sir J. Bacon in Law Times Rep. 50 345/1 The plaintiffs..might particularise more distinctly the grounds on which they claim..relief.
1987 A. T. H. Smith Offences against Public Order (BNC) 91 An indictment charged the defendants with a single offence and particularised several incidents that had occurred at different places.
b. intransitive. To attend to or mention details or particulars; to go into detail; to be specific.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > become specific [verb (intransitive)] > come to particulars > go into detail
particulate1596
particularize1601
intrinsicate1603
specialize1613
to go into ——1697
to dot the i's (and cross the t's)1820
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxxvi. xiv. 580 They would require many volumes to..particularize upon them.
1626 C. Potter tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Quarrels 196 It sufficed..to say they had many Reasons, being not able to particularize in any.
1670 W. Clarke Nat. Hist. Nitre 68 But to a little more particularise.
1709 E. Ward tr. Diverting Wks. 34 He took such Pains to particularize upon every Point of his Happiness.
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park III. xiii. 239 My first reception was so unlike what I had hoped, that I had almost resolved on leaving London again directly.—I need not particularize . View more context for this quotation
1834 W. H. Ainsworth Rookwood III. iii. xiii. 194 In our hasty narrative of the fight, we have not paused to particularize.
1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch II. xxix. 108 If his prophetic soul had been urged to particularise, it seemed to him that ‘fits’ would have been the definite expression alighted upon.
1955 G. Gorer Exploring Eng. Char. iii. 42 I thought however that if I particularized to shillings and pence..I might excite hostility and suspicion which would overweigh the greater exactness.
1991 H. Blamires Hist. Lit. Crit. (BNC) 229 He particularises in a way proper to the historian rather than to the poet.
3. † b. intransitive. To be distinguished. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To place or represent as an individual thing; to make distinct or separate from others; to differentiate, distinguish, individualize.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > difference > differ from [verb (transitive)] > distinguish or differentiate
to-skillc1175
disguise1340
asunderc1425
differc1450
difference1490
sort1553
distinguish1576
particularize?1593
diversify1594
subdistinguish1610
discriminate1615
severalize1645
specify1645
disresemble1651
estrange1727
discrepate1828
differentialize1833
differentiate1838
dissimilate1876
redifferentiate1970
?1593 H. Chettle Kind-harts Dreame 14 I will particularize the difference betweene the abused times among you reputed, and the simplicity of the daies, wherein I liued.
1643 K. Digby Observ. Religio Medici 84 Particularize a few drops of the Sea, by filling a glasse full of them; then that glasse full is distinguished from all the rest of the watery Bulke.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Surrey 78 The..place..not sufficiently particularized to his memory in so wide a Common.
1709 C. Cibber Rival Fools v. 57 Give me leave first, at least, in one friendly flowing Glass, to particularize my separate Satisfaction, that I conceive at this time in your united Felicity.
1893 Black & White 24 June 764/2 In dress, in manner..he particularises himself from his fellows.
1980 R. G. Garside Archit. Digital Computers (BNC) 20 If some of these facilities are optional, we may particularize our computer for an application area by stretching from these options.
1992 C. Barker Imajica (BNC) 93 He felt every motion of tongue and tooth in play upon him, his prick particularized by her appetite.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > difference > be different [verb (intransitive)]
diversec1384
discorda1387
swervea1400
differ?c1400
varyc1400
differencec1425
square?c1450
abhor1531
repugna1538
dissent1539
recede1570
discrepate1590
ablude1610
decline1615
to stand offa1616
particularize1637
distinguish1649
deviate1692
to stand apart1709
veer1796
to be a long way from1917
1637 Earl of Monmouth tr. V. Malvezzi Romulus & Tarquin 45 Beyond the common equalitie amongst brethren, they did particularise in being equally..at the same time borne.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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