King James Bible Dictionary

As used in the phrase "peculiar people" in 1 Peter 2:9, is derived from the Lat. peculium, and denotes, as rendered in the Revised Version ("a people for God's own possession"), a special possession or property. The church is the "property" of God, his "purchased possession" (Ephesians 1:14; R.V., "God's own possession").

PECU'LIAR, adjective [Latin peculiaris, from peculium, one's own property, from pecus, cattle.]

1. Appropriate; belonging to a person and to him only. Almost every writer has a peculiar style. Most men have manners peculiar to themselves.

2. Singular; particular. The man has something peculiar in his deportment.

3. Particular; special.

My fate is Juno's most peculiar care.

[Most cannot, in strict propriety, be prefixed to peculiar but it is used to give emphasis to the word.]

4. Belonging to a nation, system or other thing, and not to others.

PECU'LIAR, noun Exclusive property; that which belongs to a person in exclusion of others.

1. In the canon law, a particular parish or church which has the probate of wills within itself, exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop's court.

Court of peculiars, in England, is a branch of the court of arches. It has jurisdiction over all the parishes dispersed through the province of Canterbury, in the midst of other dioceses, which are exempt from the ordinary jurisdiction, and subject to the metropolitan only.

PECULIAR'ITY, noun Something peculiar to a person or thing; that which belongs to or is found in one person or thing and in no other; as a peculiarity of style or manner of thinking; peculiarity in dress.

PECU'LIARIZE, verb transitive To appropriate; to make peculiar.

PECU'LIARLY, adverb Particularly; singly.

1. In a manner not common to others.

PECU'LIARNESS, noun The state of being peculiar; appropriation. [Little used.]