particulare

Particulare is a term used in philosophy and linguistics to denote a specific instance or entity, contrasted with a general class or universal. It is not a common English lexical item; rather, it appears as a Latin or Latinized form in scholarly writing and is sometimes used to emphasize focus on a single item.

In historical contexts, especially scholastic philosophy, Latin phrases such as res particularis and other constructions used the term to mark particular things in debates about universals. In analytic and continental philosophy, the notion of the particular is central to discussions of realism, nominalism, and the nature of abstract objects. In linguistics, the form can appear in technical discussions of reference or deixis to denote a uniquely identifiable instance within discourse.

Etymology: Particulare derives from Latin particulare, related to particula “a small part” and to the broader family of words meaning part or portion. The form is most common in Latin or Latinized academic writing; modern Romance languages usually employ the corresponding form such as partclolare in some contexts, or simply use particular in everyday usage, depending on the language.

Usage notes: When encountered in English-language texts, particulare should be treated as a scholarly or coined form rather than everyday vocabulary. Determine whether it is a direct quotation, a coinage for teaching, or a stylistic device.

See also: particular, particularity, particularism, universals, haecceity, referential theory.