Specific character

Specific character
specific spe*cif"ic (sp[-e]*s[i^]f"[i^]k), a. [F. sp['e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 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. [1913 Webster]

Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]

2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement. [1913 Webster]

3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaptation, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria. [1913 Webster]

In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]

{Specific character} (Nat. Hist.), a characteristic or characteristics distinguishing one species from every other species of the same genus.

{Specific disease} (Med.) (a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect upon the blood and tissues or upon some special tissue. (b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a definite and peculiar poison or organism.

{Specific duty}. (Com.) See under {Duty}.

{Specific gravity}. (Physics) See under {Gravity}.

{Specific heat} (Physics), the quantity of heat required to raise the 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} (Physics), 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} (Law), 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} (Nat. Hist.), the name which, appended to the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of the species; -- originally applied by Linn[ae]us to the essential character of the species, or the essential difference. The present specific name he at first called the {trivial name}.

{Specific performance} (Law), the peformance of a contract or agreement as decreed by a court of equity. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • specific character — ypatumas statusas T sritis švietimas apibrėžtis Ypatybė, apibūdinanti kokį nors skirtumą nuo kitų savybių, žyminti objekto savitumą, skirtingumą, pvz., dėl tam tikrų ypatumų heuristinio pokalbio negalima priskirti prie probleminio pokalbio.… …   Enciklopedinis edukologijos žodynas

  • specific character — ypatumas statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Asmens, daikto, reiškinio būdingas bruožas, savitumas, skirtybė. atitikmenys: angl. specific character vok. Besonderheit, f rus. специфичность …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • specific character of the agricultural product or foodstuff — žemės ūkio ar maisto produkto specifinės savybės statusas Aprobuotas sritis žemės ūkio ir maisto produktų sauga ir kokybė apibrėžtis Viena ar kelios savybės, kuriomis žemės ūkio ar maisto produktas aiškiai skiriasi nuo kitų panašių tos pačios… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • specific character — noun : a character distinguishing one species from another or from every other species of the same genus …   Useful english dictionary

  • specific character — A common feature or structure in all individuals of a species …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • specific — spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Specific disease — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Specific duty — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Specific gravity — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Specific heat — specific spe*cif ic (sp[ e]*s[i^]f [i^]k), a. [F. sp[ e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. {specify}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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