Dictionary

peculiarity en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /pɪˌkjuliˈɛɹɪti/ (General-American)
• /pɪˌkjuːliˈæɹɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English peculiar Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English peculiarity From peculiar + -ity.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The state or quality of being peculiar; individuality; singularity.
   • The peculiarity of meeting six people on a usually deserted trail only struck me later on.
   • “'There is always a moment when the familiar becomes the strange,'” Cora recited, as she stood looking around at the bustling open docking area of Tamayo Point. “'Look at your own hand and you will eventually notice the variation of textures, the growth of nails and the fade of scars, the peculiarity of having five fingers instead of three.'” 2017 November, N. K. Jemisin, Mac Walters, chapter 1, in Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiation, 1st edition (Science Fiction), Titan Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 9:
2. (countable, uncountable) That which is peculiar; a special and distinctive characteristic or habit; a particularity.
   • I thought Alice and H. J. P. would have fainted at the full spectacle; but we are fast getting used to the little peculiarities of foreigners and I trust they will forgive us many sins in return. 1870, Louisa May Alcott, quoted in 2011, Daniel Shealy, Little Women Abroad: The Alcott Sisters' Letters from Europe, 1870-1871
   • I had often heard of Miss Marchmont, and of her peculiarities (she had the character of being very eccentric), but till now had never seen her. 1853, Charlotte Brontë, chapter 4, in Villette:
   • The peculiarity of this invention consists in a means for varying the angle at which the plaiting-blade is held in the plaiter without varying the position of the entire instrument upon the sewing-machine. 1873, Specifications and Drawings of Patents Issued from the U.S. Patent Office:
3. (countable, uncountable) Exclusive possession or right.

Forms

Deriveds

unpeculiarity

Relateds

peculiaries

Translations (30)

lt saviškumas (the quality or state of being peculiar) · sv egenhet (that which is peculiar) · hi विचित्रता (the quality or state of being peculiar) · fr particularité (that which is peculiar) · pl specyfika (that which is peculiar) · de Einzigartigkeit (the quality or state of being peculiar) · de Besonderheit (that which is peculiar) · bg особеност (that which is peculiar) · ca peculiaritat (that which is peculiar) · pt peculiaridade (the quality or state of being peculiar) · es peculiaridad (that which is peculiar) · ca peculiaritat (the quality or state of being peculiar) · ru осо́бенность (that which is peculiar) · pdt Ieejenschoft (that which is peculiar) · de Singularität (the quality or state of being peculiar) · pdt Ieejenschoft (the quality or state of being peculiar) · az özəllik (that which is peculiar) · pt peculiaridade (that which is peculiar) · hi विलक्षणता (the quality or state of being peculiar) · eo propreco (that which is peculiar) · fr bizarrerie (the quality or state of being peculiar) · fr étrangeté (the quality or state of being peculiar) · hi अनोखापन (the quality or state of being peculiar) · es peculiaridad (the quality or state of being peculiar) · fr singularité (the quality or state of being peculiar) · bg своеобразие (the quality or state of being peculiar) · bg особеност (the quality or state of being peculiar) · az xüsusiyyət (that which is peculiar) · fr distinction (that which is peculiar) · pl swoistość (that which is peculiar)