trivial name

trivial name
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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  • Trivial name — Trivial Triv i*al, a. [L. trivialis, properly, that is in, or belongs to, the crossroads or public streets; hence, that may be found everywhere, common, fr. trivium a place where three roads meet, a crossroad, the public street; tri (see {Tri })… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • trivial name — n. 1. a common name or vernacular name, as of a plant or animal 2. former term for the specific name of an organism as distinct from the generic name in binomial nomenclature * * * …   Universalium

  • trivial name — n. 1. a common name or vernacular name, as of a plant or animal 2. former term for the specific name of an organism as distinct from the generic name in binomial nomenclature …   English World dictionary

  • Trivial name — In chemistry and zoology, a trivial name (also a common name or vernacular name ) is a non systematic name. That is, the name is not recognised according to the rules of any formal ( e.g. IUPAC) system of nomenclature. Many trivial names continue …   Wikipedia

  • trivial name — noun 1. : specific epithet 2. : the vernacular name of an organism as distinguished from the scientific name 3. : the common name for a chemical substance (as camphor or quinoline) a trivial name … differs from a systematic name in that it tells… …   Useful english dictionary

  • trivial name — A name of a chemical, no part of which is necessarily used in a systematic sense; i.e., it gives little or no indication as to chemical structure. Such names are common for drugs, hormones, proteins, and other biologicals, and are used by the… …   Medical dictionary

  • trivial name — noun a commonly used, non systematic name of a chemical compound. Trivial names for many compounds have been in use since long before their exact chemical structures were determined …   Wiktionary

  • trivial name — triv′ial name n. 1) bio the species name that follows the genus name in taxonomic classification 2) cvb the common or unscientific name of an organism or a chemical compound • Etymology: 1775–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • trivial name — an expression used by Linnaeus (as nomen triviale) and others for the specific name. Applied by some authors in the same sense as vernacular name …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • trivial name — An obsolete designation by Linnaeus for the specific name; vernacular name …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

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