par·tic·u·lar / pə(r)ˈtikyələr/ • adj. 1. used to single out an individual member of a specified group or class: the action seems to discriminate against a particular group of companies. ∎  Logic denoting a proposition in which something is asserted of some but not all of a class. Contrasted with universal.2. esp. great or intense: when handling or checking cash the cashier should exercise particular care.3. insisting that something should be correct or suitable in every detail; fastidious: she is very particular about cleanliness.• n. 1. Philos. an individual item, as contrasted with a universal quality.2. a detail: he is wrong in every particular. ∎  (particulars) detailed information about someone or something: a clerk took the woman's particulars.PHRASES: in particular especially (used to show that a statement applies to one person or thing more than any other): he socialized with the other young people, one boy in particular.

particular †partial; pert. to a single individual XIV; †private, personal XV; distinguished as an individual XVI; †bestowing marked attention XVII; attentive to details XIX; sb. †part, section; minute part; particular instance; item, detail XVI. ME. particuler — OF. particuler (mod. particulier) — L. particulāris, f. particula PARTICLE; see -AR; conformed to L. XVI.
Hence particularism XIX, particularist XVIII, particularly XIV. So particularity XVI. — (O)F. particularité or late L. particulāritās. particularize XVI. — F. particulariser.