peculiar
peculiar Lexical Profile
peculiar Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Strange, odd, or unusual in a way that is surprising or difficult to explain.
"The old house had a peculiar smell that reminded him of damp books and dried herbs."
Belonging exclusively to or characteristic of a particular person, group, place, or thing (usually followed by 'to').
"This species of flightless bird is peculiar to the remote islands of New Zealand."
British Slightly unwell or dizzy (typically used in the phrase 'feel peculiar').
"She had to sit down in the shade because she suddenly felt a bit peculiar after standing in the heat."
• noun
British A parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocese in which it lies, being subject directly to the monarch or an archbishop.
"Westminster Abbey is designated as a royal peculiar, meaning it falls directly under the jurisdiction of the British monarch rather than a diocesan bishop."
Word Nuance & Usage
When followed by the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'peculiar to'), the word strictly means 'exclusive or unique to' rather than 'strange or odd'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 15th century from Latin peculiaris ('of private property' or 'one's own'), derived from peculium ('private property'), which originally referred to wealth in cattle (from pecu, meaning 'cattle' or 'flock').