special

1、special 的祖先拉丁 speciēs 本义"外观、样貌"，来自 specere"看"——看出"这一类"的样子，就引申出"种类"；specialis 就是"属于某一类的"：特别。
2、"看"一族打包：spectacle（景象，复数就是眼镜）、spectator（观众）、spy（间谍，暗中看）、species（物种，义为"种类、物种"的一个生物学常用词）；spice（香料）与 species 本同一词，按"种种稀罕货品"的路子得名。
3、近义三句：particular 特指同类里某一个，especial（较正式，与 special 近义）书面语气，specific 强调具体明确。special effects 特效，special offer 特价。读 /ˈspeʃ.əl/。

special

special: [13] Latin speciēs originally denoted the ‘outward aspect’, the ‘look’ of something (it was derived from specere ‘look’, source of English spectacle, spectator, spy, etc). It later evolved metaphorically to ‘type, kind’, and in that sense was adopted by English as species [16] (spice is ultimately the same word). From it was derived the adjective speciālis ‘of a particular type’, which has given English special (especial [14] came via Old French especial). Other derivatives have given English specific [17], specify [13], specimen [17], and specious [17] (from Latin speciōsus ‘good-looking’).
=> spectacle, spectator, spice, spy

special (adj.)

c. 1200, "better than ordinary," from Old French special, especial "special, particular, unusual" (12c., Modern French spécial) and directly from Latin specialis "individual, particular" (source also of Spanish especial, Italian speziale), from species "appearance, kind, sort" (see species).

Meaning "marked off from others by some distinguishing quality" is recorded from c. 1300; that of "limited as to function, operation, or purpose" is from 14c. Special effects first attested 1951. Special interests in U.S. political sense is from 1910. Special pleading first recorded 1680s, a term that had a sound legal meaning once but now is used generally and imprecisely. Special education in reference to those whose learning is impeded by some mental or physical handicap is from 1972.

special (n.)

"sweetheart, lover; special person or thing," c. 1300, from special (adj.) or from noun use of the adjective in Old French. Meaning "special train" is attested from 1866.

1. A special locking system means the door cannot be opened accidentally.

特殊的锁定系统使门不会被意外打开。

2. His immediate superior has singled him out for a special mention.

他的顶头上司特别提到了他。

3. Her cousin, a hairdresser, was perming her hair as a special treat.

她表兄是美发师，正在免费给她烫发。

4. A special dispensation may be obtained from the domestic union concerned.

从国内相关的工会那儿或许能得到一项特许。

5. The direct marketing industry has become adept at packaging special offers.

直接邮寄广告业在特卖品的包装方面已经变得非常熟练了。

【typical, unique, rare, common, particular, special】
typical: 典型的
unique: 唯一的
rare: 罕见的，珍贵的
common: 共同的
particular: 特定的，特殊的
special: 特殊的，特别的

【especial, peculiar, distinctive, unique, particular, special】
especial: 特别的，含有优越或偏好的意义，多用于书面语。
peculiar: 独特的，独有的，强调某一个体或某一集团所独有的、与众不同的，常与介词about, in, to等搭配。
distinctive: 特别的，有特色的
unique: 独特的，强调独一无二的
particular: 特殊的，过于讲究的，强调同类中某一个体所具有的独特性质，常与介词about, as to, over, to搭配。
special: 特设的，专门的，着重指某事物具有自己特有的性质、性格或个性，与同类明显相异的，常与介词about, to搭配。

【peculiar, especial, specific, particular, special, exceptional, extraordinary】
这组词都有“特殊的，特别的”的意思，其区别是：
peculiar: 强调指与众不同或独特的意思。
especial: 和special含义很接近，较正式，但侧重有特殊的意义或重要性。
specific: 着重指某种、某类事物具有的特殊或特定的属性，也可指专门提出作特别考虑的事物。
particular: 侧重不同于普遍性的个性或特殊性。
special: 普通用词，指不同于一般、与众不同，着重事物的专门性，突出与一般不同。
exceptional: 指不同于一般，本身是特别的或异常的事物。
extraordinary: 语气比exceptional强，指极大地超过一般或正常情况。