Part 622

In mineralogy and chemistry, objects which possess the same definite chemical structure, and are fundamentally the same in crystallization and physical characters, are classed as belonging to a species. In zoölogy and botany, a species is an ideal group of individuals which are believed to have descended from common ancestors, which agree in essential characteristics, and are capable of indefinitely continued fertile reproduction through the sexes. A species, as thus defined, differs from a variety or subspecies only in the greater stability of its characters and in the absence of individuals intermediate between the related groups.

4. A sort; a kind; a variety; as, a species of low cunning; a species of generosity; a species of cloth.

5. Coin, or coined silver, gold, ot other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie. [Obs.]

There was, in the splendor of the Roman empire, a less quantity of current species in Europe than there is now.

Arbuthnot.

6. A public spectacle or exhibition. [Obs.] Bacon.

7. (Pharmacy) (a) A component part of compound medicine; a simple. (b) (Med.) An officinal mixture or compound powder of any kind; esp., one used for making an aromatic tea or tisane; a tea mixture. Quincy.

8. (Civil Law) The form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure. Burill.

Incipient species (Zoöl.), a subspecies, or variety, which is in process of becoming permanent, and thus changing to a true species, usually by isolation in localities from which other varieties are excluded.

Spec"i*fi`a*ble (?), a. Admitting specification; capable of being specified.

Spe*cif"ic (?), a. [F. spécifique, 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 Linnæus 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.

Spe*cif"ic, n. 1. (Med.) A specific remedy. See Specific, a., 3.

His parents were weak enough to believe that the royal touch was a specific for this malady.

Macaulay.

2. Anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which it is applied. Dr. H. More.

Spe*cif"ic*al (?), a. Specific. Bacon.

Spe*cif"ic*al*ly (?), adv. In a specific manner.

Spe*cif"ic*al*ness, n. The quality of being specific.

Spe*cif"i*cate (?), v. t. [See Specify.] To show, mark, or designate the species, or the distinguishing particulars of; to specify. [Obs.] ir M. Hale.

Spec`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. spécification, LL. specificatio.] 1. The act of specifying or determining by a mark or limit; notation of limits.

This specification or limitation of the question hinders the disputers from wandering away from the precise point of inquiry.