Specific \Spe*cif"ic\, a. [F. sp['e]cifique, or NL. cpesificus;
L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf.
Specify.]
1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or
constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property
or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and
distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of
an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug;
the specific distinction between virtue and vice.
Specific difference is that primary attribute which
distinguishes each species from one another. --I.
Watts.
2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited;
precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.
3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the
body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption,
and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific
medicine in cases of malaria.
In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the
perfection of the science. --Coleridge.
Specific character (Nat. Hist.), a characteristic or
characteristics distinguishing one species from every
other species of the same genus.
Specific disease (Med.)
(a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect
upon the blood and tissues or upon some special
tissue.
(b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a
definite and peculiar poison or organism.
Specific duty. (Com.) See under Duty.
Specific gravity. (Physics) See under Gravity.
Specific heat (Physics), the quantity of heat required to
raise temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit
of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight
of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat
of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000.
Specific inductive capacity (Physics), the effect of a
dielectric body in producing static electric induction as
compared with that of some other body or bodies referred
to as a standard.
Specific legacy (Law), a bequest of a particular thing, as
of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified
and distinguished from all others. --Wharton. --Burrill.
Specific name (Nat., Hist.), the name which, appended to
the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of
the species; -- originally applied by Linn[ae]us to the
essential character of the species, or the essential
difference. The present specific name he at first called
the trivial name.
Specific performance (Law), the peformance of a contract or
agreement as decreed by a court of equity.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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