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peculiar

¹pe·cu·liar

adjective \pi-ˈkyül-yər\

: not usual or normal

: not well : somewhat ill

Full Definition of PECULIAR

: characteristic of only one person, group, or thing : distinctive

: different from the usual or normal:

a : special, particular

b : odd, curious

c : eccentric, queer

— pe·cu·liar·ly adverb

See peculiar defined for English-language learners »

See peculiar defined for kids »

Examples of PECULIAR

It seems peculiar that he would leave town and not tell anybody.
The dog's peculiar behavior worried them.
She got a peculiar feeling when the phone rang.
She had a peculiar expression on her face.
As military coups go, this was a most peculiar one, bloodless, and in Bangkok at least quite popular. —Ian Buruma, New York Review, 1 Mar. 2007
Right about then, Ensberg got himself back on the field, where a peculiar thing happened: he stopped thinking. —Tom Friend, ESPN, 28 Aug. 2006
I smell again the peculiar and dynamic smell of Gillespie's science room. —Muriel Spark, Curriculum Vitae, (1992) 1993
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Origin of PECULIAR

Middle English peculier, from Latin peculiaris of private property, special, from peculium private property, from pecu cattle; akin to Latin pecus cattle — more at fee

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PECULIAR

Synonyms: aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, extraordinaire, extraordinary, freak, odd, exceptional, phenomenal, preternatural, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted

Antonyms: common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary, usual

See Synonym Discussion at characteristic, strange

²pe·cu·liar

noun \pi-ˈkyül-yər\

Definition of PECULIAR

: something exempt from ordinary jurisdiction; especially : a church or parish exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary in whose territory it lies