peculiar
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.strange, unusual, or odd in a way that might be hard to understand.
adj.deviating from the usual or expected; exhibiting strangeness or eccentricity.
Simple“The milk had a peculiar smell, so I decided not to drink it.”
In context“The witness noted a peculiar clicking sound emanating from the engine just moments before the vehicle came to a complete halt.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
adj.belonging only to one particular person, place, or situation.
adj.belonging exclusively to a specific individual, group, or circumstance; often used with the preposition 'to'.
Simple“This type of traditional dance is peculiar to this small mountain village.”
In context“The researcher argued that such linguistic patterns are peculiar to the isolated dialects of the northern archipelago.”
UsageUsually followed by the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.belonging to yourself alone; not shared with others.
adj.pertaining to one's own private property or individual character; not held in common.
Simple“He kept his peculiar troubles to himself and never asked for help.”
In context“In the old legal documents, the land was described as his peculiar possession, free from any claims by the local lord.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a church or parish that is not under the control of the local bishop.
n.an ecclesiastical district or parish exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop in whose diocese it lies.
Simple“Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar, meaning it answers directly to the monarch.”
In context“The legal status of the Royal Peculiars remains a unique vestige of medieval ecclesiastical law within the Church of England.”
Synonymsexempt jurisdiction
“A new species of monkey — one with a peculiar salmon-hued pout — has been discovered by scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
“A couple of weeks in, Lomax took a boat to Beaver Island, in the middle of Lake Michigan, a location with a peculiar and particular history.”
From Latin pecūliāris (“one's own”), from pecūlium (“private property”), from pecus (“cattle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.