special

special
   1. requiring non-standard attention or facilities
   Educational jargon which is not used for those of superior attainments. Whence special pupils who may go to special classes for remedial tuition or to special schools where those of restricted mobility may play special games, have special needs, and so on:
    Mrs Evans was attacked by the boy, a special needs pupil who suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, after he was told he was not allowed to go swimming. (Daily Telegraph, 2 September 2000 — the teacher, not the pupil, was then disciplined, suspended, and prosecuted) Special care is what is given to the mentally ill: To the outside world, it advertised itself as a 'Special Care unit', but that, like so much of the language employed by the authorities, was a euphemism. To a greater or lesser extent, its inmates were insane. (McCrum, 1991)
   Poor areas are designated special areas:
    The Commissioner for what were euphemistically called the Special Areaslater known as the Distressed Areas — had resigned his post. (Deedes, 1997, writing of Britain in the 1930s) etc.
   2. British
   an ancillary and voluntary police officer
   Shortened form of special constable and without political overtones in England, Wales, and Scotland. In Northern Ireland the Specials were a paramilitary force which supported Protestant political dominance:
    Originally there had been three classes of enlistment: Class A, which involved full-time duty; Class B, involving part-time duties; and Class C, comprising volunteers who could be called up in an emergency. In 1969, only Class B — the 'B-Specials' — remained... There was not a Catholic amongst them. (Deedes, 1997, describing the Ulster Special Constabulary)
   3. nuclear
   In the jargon of the forces, special stores or weapons:
    ... a considerable number [of nuclear warheads] had been in Special Weapons Stores overrun by the offensive. (Hackett, 1978)
   4. exclusively provided for the use of senior party officials and their families
   An abuse recognized, but not eliminated, by post-Communist Russian leaders:
    We must finally eliminate the special food 'perks' for the 'starving nomenklatura', and abolish both in substance and form the word 'Spets' — special stores, special clinics, special health resorts, and so forth — since we did not have any special communists. (Gorbachev, in translation 1995, quoting Yeltsin: 'spets' were special facilities for the nomenklatura, or privileged class)
   5. involving a personal sexual relationship
   Some of us consider other friendships also as special:
    I was drinking... with Democritus — that's my friend, my special friend, you understand. (A. Massie, 1986 — he was his catamite)
   6. ruthless and not complying with normal laws

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • spécial — spécial, iale, iaux [ spesjal, jo ] adj. • 1190; especiel v. 1130; lat. specialis « relatif à l espèce » 1 ♦ Qui concerne une espèce, une sorte de choses (opposé à général). Domaine spécial. ⇒ spécialité. Des connaissances spéciales. Dictionnaire …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Special — Spe cial, a. [L. specialis, fr. species a particular sort, kind, or quality: cf. F. sp[ e]cial. See {Species}, and cf. {Especial}.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort. [1913 Webster] A special is called by the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • special — spe·cial adj 1: distinguished by some unusual quality special circumstances justifying an award of attorney s fees 2: relating to a single thing or class of things: having an individual character or trait owed them a special duty not owed to the… …   Law dictionary

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  • special — adj Special, especial, specific, particular, individual are closely related terms because all carry the meaning relating to or belonging to one thing or one class especially as distinguished from all the others. Both special and especial imply… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Special — «Special» Sencillo de Garbage del álbum Version 2.0 Lado B 13 x Forever Medication (Acoustic Version) Formato 3 CD Single, Maxi sencillo, Cassette Grabación Marzo de 1997 Febrero de 1998 Smart Studios, Madison …   Wikipedia Español

  • Special K — is a lightly toasted breakfast cereal manufactured by the Kellogg Company. The cereal was introduced to the United States in 1956. It is made primarily from rice and wheat. The name was created by taking the K for Kellogg s and adding the word… …   Wikipedia

  • special — [spesh′əl] adj. [ME < OFr especial < L specialis < species, kind, sort: see SPECIES] 1. of a kind different from others; distinctive, peculiar, or unique 2. exceptional; extraordinary [a special treat] 3. highly regarded or valued [a… …   English World dictionary

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