specify
/ˈspɛs.əˌfaɪ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.78 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "I was nevere somouned, ne never hadde tydynges of this matier but by seyd lettres and other fleying tales that I heve herd sithen, ne nevere hadde to do more with the seyd John Wortes than is specified in the seyd instruccion."
- "Thanne after came A riall ordenaunce, / Too myghty princes with a grete pusaunce, / ffro Masedeyn and owt of Arkadye, / Ther cowde no man the nowmber specifie."
- "But there is no need of specifying particulars in this class of uses. The catalogue is endless, and the examples so obvious, that I shall leave them to the reader’s reflection, with the general remark, that this mercenary benefit is one which has respect to a farther good. A man is fed, not that he may be fed, but that he may work."
- "It seems to me that whoever at the Department of Transport or the train operating companies, or both, is specifying the standard of seats these days has taken leave of their senses and opted for cheapness over comfort."
- "Forthermar o þis lecheri / Agh i þe noght to specifie[…]"
Etymology
From Middle English specifien, from Old French specifier, especefier, or directly from Medieval Latin specificō, from specificus (“specific”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈspɛs.əˌfaɪ/
- British English: /ˈspɛs.ɪ.faɪ/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
Frequently Paired Words
Synonyms
name
explicitize
disambiguate
call
call out
clarify
clear up
get something straight
narrow down
nominate
particularize
singularize