peculiar
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,460 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 12,576 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.006% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- beyond or deviating from the usual or expected also: curious, funny, odd, queer, rum, rummy a curious hybrid accenther speech has a funny twang
- unique or specific to a person or thing or category also: particular, special the particular demands of the jobhas a particular preference for Chinese art
- markedly different from the usual a peculiar hobby of stuffing and mounting batsa man...feels it a peculiar insult to be taunted with cowardice by a woman
- characteristic of one only; distinctive or special the peculiar character of the Government of the U.S.
peculiar in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Of course you are familiar with the peculiar conformation of Cape Cod.
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1
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The air was heavy with the peculiar desolation of a London winter morning.
The Little Nugget · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
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But from that instant, Sir, I kinder realised the peculiar charm of your British chop.
Punch — Volume 101, November 7, 1891 · Various · Chapter 1
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Probably Angus entertained some of the antipathy to Scotchmen which was peculiar to his age.
The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance · Hall, Sir Caine · Chapter 1
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The peculiar sensitiveness of the southern white men for women, never shed its protecting influence about them.
The Red Record Tabulated Statistics · Ida B. Wells-Barnett · Chapter 1