'Specific name' definitions:

Definition of 'Specific name'

From: GCIDE
  • specific \spe*cif"ic\ (sp[-e]*s[i^]f"[i^]k), a. [F. sp['e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaptation, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria. [1913 Webster]
  • In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]
  • 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 the 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 Linnaeus 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. [1913 Webster]