when used merely as an attribute of a noun, without reference to time, is called an adjective, or a participial
adjective; as, a written constitution; a rolling stone; the exhausted army. The verbal noun in -ing has the
form of the present participle. See Verbal noun, under Verbal, a.
2. Anything that partakes of the nature of different things. [Obs.]
The participles or confines between plants and living creatures.
Bacon. Particle
(Par"ti*cle) n. [L. particula, dim of pars, gen partis, a part: cf. F. particule. See Part, and cf.
Parcel.]
1. A minute part or portion of matter; a morsel; a little bit; an atom; a jot; as, a particle of sand, of wood, of
dust.
The small size of atoms which unite
To make the smallest particle of light.
Blackmore. 2. Any very small portion or part; the smallest portion; as, he has not a particle of patriotism or virtue.
The houses had not given their commissioners authority in the least particle to recede.
Clarendon. 3. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A crumb or little piece of concecrated host. (b) The smaller hosts distributed in the
communion of the laity. Bp. Fitzpatrick.
4. (Gram.) A subordinate word that is never inflected (a preposition, conjunction, interjection); or a word
that can not be used except in compositions; as, ward in backward, ly in lovely.
Particolored
(Par"ti*col`ored), a. Same as Party-colored.
Particular
(Par*tic"u*lar) a. [OE. particuler, F. particulier, L. particularis. See Particle.]
1. Relating to a part or portion of anything; concerning a part separated from the whole or from others of
the class; separate; sole; single; individual; specific; as, the particular stars of a constellation. Shak.
[/Make] each particular hair to stand an end,
Like quills upon the fretful porpentine.
Shak.
Seken in every halk and every herne
Particular sciences for to lerne.
Chaucer. 2. Of or pertaining to a single person, class, or thing; belonging to one only; not general; not common; hence,
personal; peculiar; singular. "Thine own particular wrongs." Shak.
Wheresoever one plant draweth such a particular juice out of the earth.
Bacon. 3. Separate or distinct by reason of superiority; distinguished; important; noteworthy; unusual; special; as, he
brought no particular news; she was the particular belle of the party.
4. Concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; circumstantial; precise; as, a full and particular account
of an accident; hence, nice; fastidious; as, a man particular in his dress.
5. (Law) (a) Containing a part only; limited; as, a particular estate, or one precedent to an estate in
remainder. (b) Holding a particular estate; as, a particular tenant. Blackstone.
6. (Logic) Forming a part of a genus; relatively limited in extension; affirmed or denied of a part of a
subject; as, a particular proposition; — opposed to universal: e. g. (particular affirmative) Some men are
wise; (particular negative) Some men are not wise.
Particular average. See under Average. — Particular Baptist, one of a branch of the Baptist denomination
the members of which hold the doctrine of a particular or individual election and reprobation. — Particular
