special

special [spesh′əl]

adj.

[ME < OFr especial < L specialis < species, kind, sort: see SPECIES]

1. of a kind different from others; distinctive, peculiar, or unique

2. exceptional; extraordinary [a special treat]

3. highly regarded or valued [a special friend]

4. of or for a particular person, occasion, purpose, etc. [by special permission, a special edition]

5. not general or regular; specific or limited [special legislation]

n.

1. a special person or thing; specif., a special train, edition, sale offer or item, etc.

☆ 2. a single TV program, not part of a regular series

SYN.- SPECIAL and ESPECIAL both imply that the thing so described has qualities, aspects, or uses which differentiate it from others of its class, and the choice of word generally depends on euphony, but ESPECIAL is usually preferred where preeminence is implied [a matter of especial interest to you ]; SPECIFIC and PARTICULAR are both applied to something that is singled out for attention, but SPECIFIC suggests the explicit statement of an example, illustration, etc. [he cited specific cases ], and PARTICULAR emphasizes the distinctness or individuality of the thing so described [in this particular case ] -ANT. GENERAL