A special is called by the schools a ``species''.
--I. Watts.
2. Particular; peculiar; different from others;
extraordinary; uncommon.
Our Savior is represented everywhere in Scripture as
the special patron of the poor and the afficted.
--Atterbury.
To this special evil an improvement of style would
apply a special redress. --De Quincey.
3. Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose, occasion,
or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress;
a special sermon.
4. Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action,
investigation, or discussion; as, a special dictionary of
commercial terms; a special branch of study.
5. Chief in excellence. [Obs.]
The king hath drawn The special head of all the land
together. --Shak.
{Special administration} (Law), an administration limited to
certain specified effects or acts, or one granted during a
particular time or the existence of a special cause, as
during a controversy respecting the probate of a will, or
the right of administration, etc.
{Special agency}, an agency confined to some particular
matter.
{Special bail}, {Bail above}, or {Bail to the action} (Law),
sureties who undertake that, if the defendant is
convicted, he shall satisfy the plaintiff, or surrender
himself into custody. --Tomlins. Wharton (Law Dict.).
{Special constable}. See under {Constable}. --Bouvier.
{Special damage} (Law), a damage resulting from the act
complained of, as a natural, but not the necessary,
consequence of it.
{Special demurrer} (Law), a demurrer for some defect of form
in the opposite party pleading, in which the cause of
demurrer is particularly stated.
{Special deposit}, a deposit made of a specific thing to be
kept distinct from others.
{Special homology}. (Biol.) See under {Homology}.
{Special injuction} (Law), an injuction granted on special
grounds, arising of the circumstances of the case.
--Daniell.
{Special issue} (Law), an issue produced upon a special plea.
--Stephen.
{Special jury} (Law), a jury consisting of persons of some
particular calling, station, or qualification, which is
called upon motion of either party when the cause is
supposed to require it; a struck jury.
{Special orders} (Mil.), orders which do not concern, and are
not published to, the whole command, such as those
relating to the movement of a particular corps, a detail,
a temporary camp, etc.
{Special partner}, a limited partner; a partner with a
limited or restricted responsibility; -- unknown at common
law.
{Special partnership}, a limited or particular partnership;
-- a term sometimes applied to a partnership in a
particular business, operation, or adventure.
{Special plea in bar} (Law), a plea setting forth particular
and new matter, distinguished from the general issue.
--Bouvier.
{Special pleader} (Law), originally, a counsel who devoted
himself to drawing special counts and pleas; in a wider
sense, a lawyer who draws pleadings.
{Special pleading} (Law), the allegation of special or new
matter, as distingiushed from a direct denial of matter
previously alleged on the side. --Bouvier. The popular
denomination of the whole science of pleading. --Stephen.
The phrase is sometimes popularly applied to the specious,
but unsound, argumentation of one whose aim is victory,
and not truth. --Burrill.
{Special property} (Law), a qualified or limited ownership
possession, as in wild animals, things found or bailed.
{Special session}, an extraordinary session; a session at an
unusual time or for an unusual purpose; as, a special
session of Congress or of a legislature.
{Special statute}, or {Special law}, an act of the
legislature which has reference to a particular person,
place, or interest; -- in distinction from a general law.
{Special verdict} (Law), a special finding of the facts of
the case, leaving to the court the application of the law
to them. --Wharton (Law Dict.).
Syn: Peculiar; appropriate; specific; dictinctive;
particular; exceptional; singular. See {Peculiar}.
2. One appointed for a special service or occasion.
{In special}, specially; in particular. --Chaucer.