Word Meanings - SPECIFIC - Book Publishers vocabulary database

Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria. In fact, all medicines will be found specific in

Additional info about word: SPECIFIC

Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria. In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science. Coleridge. Specific character , a characteristic or characteristics distinguishing one species from every other species of the same genus. -- Specific disease A disease which produces a determinate definite effect upon the blood and tissues or upon some special tissue. A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a definite and peculiar poison or organism. -- Specific duty. See under Duty. -- Specific gravity. See under Gravity. -- Specific heat , the quantity of heat required to raise temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000. -- Specific inductive capacity , the effect of a dielectric body in producing static electric induction as compared with that of some other body or bodies referred to as a standard. -- Specific legacy , a bequest of a particular thing, as of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified and distinguished from all others. Wharton. Burrill. -- Specific name , the name which, appended to the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of the species; -- originally applied by Linnæus to the essential character of the species, or the essential difference. The present specific name he at first called the trivial name. -- Specific performance , the peformance of a contract or agreement as decreed by a court of equity. (more info) 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice. Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. I. Watts. 2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of SPECIFIC)

• Circumstantial
• Inferential
• constructive
• minute
• detailed
• elaborate
• specific
• Definite
• Clear
• specified
• determined
• definitive
• restricted
• certain
• ascertained
• precise
• exact
• fixed
• limited
• bounded
• positive
• Express
• Specific
• pointed
• direct
• Individual
• Personal
• peculiar
• indivisible
• identical
• singular
• idiosyncratic
• special
• single
• separate
• particular
• Minute
• Diminutive
• microscopic
• tiny
• searching

Related words: (words related to SPECIFIC)

• PECULIARIZE
  To make peculiar; to set appart or assign, as an exclusive possession. Dr. John Smith.
• SPECIFICNESS
  The quality or state of being specific.
• DIRECT CURRENT
  A current flowing in one direction only; -- distinguished from alternating current. When steady and not pulsating a direct current is often called a continuous current. A direct induced current, or momentary current of the same direction as the
• BOUNDLESS
  Without bounds or confines; illimitable; vast; unlimited. "The boundless sky." Bryant. "The boundless ocean." Dryden. "Boundless rapacity." "Boundless prospect of gain." Macaulay. Syn. -- Unlimited; unconfined; immeasurable; illimitable; infinite.
• INDIVISIBLE
  Not capable of exact division, as one quantity by another; incommensurable. (more info) 1. Not divisible; incapable of being divided, separated, or broken; not separable into parts. "One indivisible point of time." Dryden.
• DIRECTER
  One who directs; a director. Directer plane , the plane to which all right-lined elements in a warped surface are parallel.
• CLEARLY
  In a clear manner.
• ASCERTAINMENT
  The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery. The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke.
• SINGLE-BREASTED
  Lapping over the breast only far enough to permit of buttoning, and having buttons on one edge only; as, a single-breasted coast.
• EXACTOR
  One who exacts or demands by authority or right; hence, an extortioner; also, one unreasonably severe in injunctions or demands. Jer. Taylor.
• ASCERTAINABLE
  That may be ascertained. -- As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness, n. -- As`cer*tain"a*bly, adv.
• EXACTING
  Oppressive or unreasonably severe in making demands or requiring the exact fulfillment of obligations; harsh; severe. "A temper so exacting." T. Arnold -- Ex*act"ing*ly, adv. -- Ex*act"ing*ness, n.
• LIMITARIAN
  Tending to limit.
• LIMITIVE
  Involving a limit; as, a limitive law, one designed to limit existing powers.
• CLEARER
  A tool of which the hemp for lines and twines, used by sailmakers, is finished. (more info) 1. One who, or that which, clears. Gold is a wonderful clearer of the understanding. Addison.
• DEFINITIVE
  1. Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express. A strict and definitive truth. Sir T. Browne. Some definitive . . . scheme of reconciliation. Prescott. 2. Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word. 3. Determined; resolved.
• LIMITABLE
  Capable of being limited.
• RESTRICT
  Restricted.
• CIRCUMSTANTIALITY
  The state, characteristic, or quality of being circumstantial; particularity or minuteness of detail. "I will endeavor to describe with sufficient circumstantiality." De Quincey.
• SEARCHLESS
  Impossible to be searched; inscrutable; impenetrable.
• HOME-BOUND
  Kept at home.
• OUTBOUND
  Outward bound. Dryden.
• REFIX
  To fix again or anew; to establish anew. Fuller.
• INSEPARATE
  Not separate; together; united. Shak.
• SUBINDIVIDUAL
  A division of that which is individual. An individual can not branch itself into subindividuals. Milton.
• INEXACTLY
  In a manner not exact or precise; inaccurately. R. A. Proctor.
• UNLIMITED
  1. Not limited; having no bounds; boundless; as, an unlimited expanse of ocean. 2. Undefined; indefinite; not bounded by proper exceptions; as, unlimited terms. "Nothing doth more prevail than unlimited generalities." Hooker. 3. Unconfined; not
• AFFIX
  figere to fasten: cf. OE. affichen, F. afficher, ultimately fr. L. 1. To subjoin, annex, or add at the close or end; to append to; to fix to any part of; as, to affix a syllable to a word; to affix a seal to an instrument; to affix one's name to
• UNBOUND
  imp. & p. p. of Unbind.
• DEFIX
  To fix; to fasten; to establish. "To defix their princely seat . . . in that extreme province." Hakluyt.
• INEXACT
  Not exact; not precisely correct or true; inaccurate.