specificaladj.n.
Now rare.
A. adj.
1.
a. = specific adj. 2 †Also of division: Resulting in the separation of species.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > taxonomy > [adjective] > separation or division
specifical?a1475
separative1865
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or restricted in application > [adjective] > belonging to a particular thing or person
specialc1230
proper1340
peculiara1475
specifical?a1475
singular?a1513
private1526
privy1560
personed1565
individual1570
particular1582
idiotical1655
specific1665
sacred1667
specific1667
specifiala1670
idiomatic1771
idiomatical1774
appropriate1796
exclusive1804
propriate1820
especial1854
dedicated1969
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 27 In the maner of a diuision genericalle in to a diuision specificalle.
1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. Math. Præf. sig. biiiv The specificall order and forme, due to euery seede.
1637 G. Gillespie Dispute against Eng.-Popish Ceremonies iv. ii. 4 The specificall nature of that action.
1682 J. Norris tr. Hierocles Golden Verses 6 Which so retain their Connexion in their specifical distinction & conjunction.
1703 W. Burkitt Expos. Notes New Test. 1 Cor. xi. 7 Consider the Woman according to her specifical Nature.
1751 R. Shirra in Rem. (1850) 150 The first regeneration is a specifical change—a change from nature to grace.
1815 T. Chalmers Posthumous Wks. (1849) VI. 278 The great and specifical end of that affecting solemnity.
b. = specific adj. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [adjective] > characteristic or distinguishing
distinctive1583
physiognomical1588
specifical1621
specific1649
diagnostic1650
distinguishable1665
specific1667
physiognomonical1668
well-characterized1672
specifying1675
distinguishing1687
determinative1697
physiognomonic1755
marking1795
featurelya1834
typical1850
characterizing1870
trademark1943
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. i. iii. i. 46 Omitting the specificall difference.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. v. 799 According to the best Philosophy, which acknowledges no Essential or Specifical Difference of Matter.
1713 W. Derham Physico-theol. viii. vi. 425 I could not perceive any difference, at least, not specifical, between the Flies coming from these two Productions.
2. = specific adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > [adjective]
specifical1610
specifica1631
1610 J. Healey tr. J. L. Vives in tr. St. Augustine Citie of God viii. vi. 308 Alcinous saith..that God is incomprehensible,..not definable, nor specificall.
1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xxiv. 219 Generation is not made..by a specificall worker within.
1649 J. Milton Tenure of Kings 35 Having..clad him over like another specifical thing with formes and habitudes destructive to the former.
3. Medicine. = specific adj. 3a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > [adjective] > specific
magistral1583
specifical1604
magisterial1658
specific1677
1604 F. Herring Modest Def. Caueat 21 The specificall Antidot of the Pest is yet vnknowen.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 275 All mineralls shew themselues in operation to be specificall.
1660 J. Harding tr. Paracelsus Archidoxis i. 102 As..Water quencheth Fire, even so doth the Specifical Anodine extinguish Diseases.
4. = specific adj. 4a, 4b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective] > of measures, quantities
evenOE
graith1352
neat1682
specific1740
specifical1768
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > [adjective] > going into detail > specially mentioned or indicated > precisely
precisec1443
specific1766
specifical1768
actual1793
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. ix. 154 The proper remedy is by action of debt, to compel the performance of the contract and recover the specifical sum due.
1781 Gentleman's Mag. 51 616 Matadores in Spanish are murderers, and the specifical cards so called do cut down and murder all the rest.
5. Zoology and Botany. = specific adj. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > taxonomy > taxon > [adjective] > species or sub-species > relating to
specific1753
specifical1762
1762 Philos. Trans. 1761 (Royal Soc.) 52 84 I only mention this species, to determine its specifical character.
1790 R. Pulteney Hist. Sketches Bot. in Eng. i. v. 69 Allowing for the time when specifical distinctions were not established,..the number [of plants] he was acquainted with is much beyond what could easily have been imagined.
6. Limited to a special sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or restricted in application > [adjective] > limited to a special sense
specifical1778
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > meaning or signification > [adjective] > restricted or limited
straitc1380
specifical1778
strict1842
1778 Gentleman's Mag. 48 407/1 It is not uncommon for a general word to become specifical.
B. n.
1. = specific n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > [noun] > a medicine or medicament > specific medicine
secret1558
nostrum1602
magistrality1605
magistral1621
magisteriala1627
specifical1651
specificum1651
specific1661
magistery1669
1651 N. Biggs Matæotechnia Medicinæ Praxeωs ⁋134 By adding strong specificals.
1656 J. Smith Compl. Pract. Physick 61 Specificals are, the whitest dung of a Wolf [etc.].
2. A person representing a class.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > [noun] > distinction of class > level or grade > those belonging to
number1542
tribe1609
species1644
specifical1651
syntagma1813
status group1902
status grouping1920
1651 N. Bacon Contin. Hist. Disc. Govt. 303 This is done in the convention of States, which in the first times consisted rather of Individuals rather then Specificalls.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.n.?a1475