Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1783-1822
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PARTICULARITY, n. A personal or private trait or characteristic, an idiosyncrasy; a detail, a particular (Sh., Ags. 1965). Obs. in Eng. since 18th c.Sc. 1783 Boswell Johnson (1901) III. 225:
I observed, he must have been a bold laugher who would have ventured to tell Dr. Johnson of any of his particularities.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost iv., xl.:
The office of dean of guild must be a very fashious one, to folks like me, no skilled in its particularities. . . . Being, as he was, a great stickler for small particularities, more zealous than disereet.
