Etimology
From Middle English particuler, from Anglo-Norman particuler, Middle French particuler, particulier, from Late Latin particularis (“partial; separate, individual”), from Latin particula (“(small) part”). Equivalent to particle + -ar. Compare particle.
adjective
particular (comparative more particular, superlative most particular) (also non-comparable)
(obsolete) Pertaining only to a part of something; partial.
Specific; discrete; concrete.
Specialised; characteristic of a specific person or thing.
(obsolete) Known only to an individual person or group; confidential.
Distinguished in some way; special (often in negative constructions).
(comparable) Of a person, concerned with, or attentive to, details; fastidious.
Concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; circumstantial; precise.
(law) Containing a part only; limited.
(law) Holding a particular estate.
(logic) Forming a part of a genus; relatively limited in extension; affirmed or denied of a part of a subject.
Examples
Synonyms: see Thesaurus:specific
Antonym: general
I couldn't find the particular model you asked for, but I hope this one will do.
We knew it was named after John Smith, but nobody knows which particular John Smith.
I could a tale unfold whose lightest word / Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, / Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, / Thy knotted and combined locks to part / And each particular hair to stand on end
Synonyms: optimized, specialistic
I don't appreciate your particular brand of cynicism.
wheresoever one plant draweth such a particular juice out of the earth
or these domesticke and particular broiles, Are not the question heere.
My five favorite places are, in no particular order, New York, Chicago, Paris, San Francisco and London.
I didn't have any particular interest in the book.
He brought no particular news.
She was the particular belle of the party.
Synonyms: minute, precise, fastidious; see also Thesaurus:fastidious
He is very particular about his food and if it isn't cooked to perfection he will send it back.
These women are more particular about their appearance.
There is a scraper as well as a mat, and Mrs. Challenger is most particular.
Synonyms: see Thesaurus:meticulous
a full and particular account of an accident
a particular estate, or one precedent to an estate in remainder
a particular tenant
a particular proposition, opposed to "universal", e.g. "Some men are wise"; "Some men are not wise".
Related words
related terms
in particular
particular average
particular Church
particular integral
particulars (pl.)
noun
particular (plural particulars)
A small individual part of something larger; a detail, a point. [from 15th c.]
(obsolete) A person's own individual case. [16th–19th c.]
(now philosophy, chiefly in plural) A particular case; an individual thing as opposed to a whole class. (Opposed to generals, universals.) [from 17th c.]
Examples
I did not omit even our Sports and Paſtimes, or any other Particular which I thought might redound to the Honour of my Country.
Since philosophy could never find any way for tranquillity that might be generally good, let every man in his particular seeke for it.
temporal blessings, whether such as concern the public […] or such as concern our particular
When we examine common words, we find that, broadly speaking, proper names stand for particulars, while other substantives, adjectives, prepositions, and verbs stand for universals.
Related words
related terms
universal
for one's particular