peculiarly

Everyday

1. In a strange or odd way. tree →
2. Especially or particularly, as in «peculiarly difficult». tree →
3. Belonging only to one group or place, as in «peculiarly British». tree →

In the lessons

In stories it tells the reader something is not normal: in Wonderland everything behaves peculiarly, and Alice says things are getting «curiouser and curiouser». In everyday talk, «peculiarly British» means typical of Britain only.

Examples

• The cat was behaving peculiarly before the storm. tree →
• It was a peculiarly hot day for April. tree →
• Alice thought the Duchess behaved most peculiarly. tree →
• Queuing politely is said to be peculiarly British. tree →
• He was peculiarly quiet at dinner. tree →
• The milk smelled peculiarly sour. tree →
• They divided the life of Man among them, and each endowed one part of it with the qualities which were peculiarly his own. tree →

Note

From «peculiar» (strange; or belonging to one only). Trap: peculiar does not always mean bad, sometimes just «special to».