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peculiar
pe·cu·liar / pəˈkyoōlyər/ • adj. 1. strange or odd; unusual: his accent was a peculiar mixture of Cockney and Irish. ∎ inf. slightly and indefinably unwell; faint or dizzy: I felt a little peculiar for a while, but I'm absolutely fine now. 2. (peculiar to) belonging exclusively to: the air hung with an antiseptic aroma peculiar to hospitals. ∎ formal particular; special: any attempt to explicate the theme is bound to run into peculiar difficulties. ORIGIN: late Middle English (in the sense ‘particular, special’): from Latin peculiaris ‘of private property,’ from peculium ‘property,’ from pecu ‘cattle’ (cattle being private property). The sense ‘odd’ dates from the early 17th cent. |
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"peculiar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "peculiar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-peculiar.html "peculiar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-peculiar.html |
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peculiar
peculiar a parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocese in which it lies, through being subject to the jurisdiction of the monarch or an archbishop. Recorded from late Middle English (in the sense ‘particular, special’), the word comes from Latin peculiaris ‘of private property’, and ultimately from pecu ‘cattle’ (cattle being private property). The current sense ‘odd’ dates from the early 17th century.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "peculiar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "peculiar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-peculiar.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "peculiar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-peculiar.html |
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Peculiar
Peculiar. A place exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop of the diocese in which it is situated. Royal Peculiars, which are usually churches connected with a royal castle or palace (e.g. St George's Chapel, Windsor, and Westminster Abbey), are exempt from any jurisdiction except that of the Sovereign. Most of the rights and privileges of the other types of Peculiar (e.g. Monastic and Cathedral Peculiars) have now been removed.
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Peculiar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Peculiar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Peculiar.html E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Peculiar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Peculiar.html |
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peculiar
peculiar that is one's own XV; individual, particular XVI; uncommon, odd XVII; sb. parish or church independent of the jurisdiction of the ordinary XVI. — L. pecūliāris not held in common with others, f. pecūlium property, f. pecu herd, rel. to Vedic páśu-, OE feoh live stock, property, OS., OHG. fehu (G. vieh), ON. fé, Goth. faihu; f. IE. base *peku. See -AR.
Hence peculiarity XVII. |
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T. F. HOAD. "peculiar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "peculiar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-peculiar.html T. F. HOAD. "peculiar." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-peculiar.html |
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