Specifinis

Specifinis is an adjective in Lithuanian meaning "specific" or "particular." It is used to denote features, items, or categories that are distinguished within a broader group. In scientific, legal, and everyday language, it often precedes a noun to signal a distinction between the general and the particular case. For example, a phrase like "specifinis tikslas" refers to a precise aim, while "specifinės charakteristikos" describes particular features of a subject.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin specificus, passing into Lithuanian through European linguistic routes. In Lithuanian, it is integrated as a standard adjective form with typical inflection patterns.

Usage and grammar: Like other Lithuanian adjectives, specifinis agrees with the noun in gender and number. The masculine singular nominative form is "specifinis"; feminine singular is "specifinė"; plural nominative forms include "specifiniai" (masculine) and "specifinės" (feminine). Other grammatical cases follow the standard declension for adjectives ending in -inis.

Related terms and usage notes: The term is closely connected with the concept of specificity in science and philosophy, and with the broader notion of concreteness or particularity in language. In modern usage, it is common in technical writing, as well as in journalism and policy discussions, to distinguish a "specifinis" instance from a general one.

See also: Specificity, Specific (as a broader English term used in technical contexts), Konkretus (another Lithuanian term conveying concreteness or particularity).