peculiar

[ pi-kyool-yer ]
/ pɪˈkyul yər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR peculiar ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

noun

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Origin of peculiar

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; from Latin pecūliāris “as one's own,” equivalent to pecūli(um) “property” (derivative of pecū “flock, farm animals”; akin to pecus “cattle” (see fee)) + -āris-ar1

synonym study for peculiar

1. See strange.

OTHER WORDS FROM peculiar

pe·cu·liar·ly, adverbun·pe·cu·liar, adjectiveun·pe·cu·liar·ly, adverb

Words nearby peculiar

pectus, pectus carinatum, pectus excavatum, pectus recurvatum, peculate, peculiar, peculiar institution, peculiarity, peculiarize, peculiar people, peculium
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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Words related to peculiar

distinct, distinctive, specific, personal, idiosyncratic, particular, unique, special, funny, unusual, unconventional, singular, quaint, eccentric, wonderful, outlandish, offbeat, extraordinary, strange, wacky

Example sentences from the Web for peculiar

British Dictionary definitions for peculiar

peculiar
/ (pɪˈkjuːlɪə) /

adjective

strange or unusual; odda peculiar individual; a peculiar idea
distinct from others; special
(postpositive foll by to) belonging characteristically or exclusively (to)peculiar to North America

noun

Also called: arbitrary printing a special sort, esp an accented letter
Church of England a church or parish that is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary in whose diocese it lies

Derived forms of peculiar

peculiarly, adverb

Word Origin for peculiar

C15: from Latin pecūliāris concerning private property, from pecūlium, literally: property in cattle, from pecus cattle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012