[f. SPECIALIZE v. + -ATION.] The action or process of specializing or of becoming specialized.
a. Of language, legislation, etc.
1843. Mill, Logic, IV. v. II. 270. We have seen above, in the words pagan and villain, remarkable examples of the specialization of the meaning of words.
1864. Max Müller, Sci. Lang., Ser. II. viii. 352, note. The specialization of general roots is more common than the generalization of special roots.
1891. Driver, Introd. Lit. O. T. (1892), 26. A noticeable difference is the greater specialization and strictness of the provisions contained in the former narrative.
b. Biol. Of animals or plants, or of the parts or organs of these.
1862. Dana, Man. Geology, 599. This law of specialization—the general before the special—is the law of all development.
1869. H. Spencer, Princ. Psychol. (1872), I. III. vi. 330. Change from a general diffusion of food to a localization of food, involves a further specialization.
1880. A. R. Wallace, Island Life, v. 75. The cause … is, undoubtedly, the extreme specialisation of most insects.
c. Of employments, studies, etc.
1865. Mill, Comte, 94. The increasing specialisation of all employments … is not without inconveniences.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., v. 273. The principle of the improvement which appears to me possible in our system of studies is that of specialisation.
1890. Gross, Gild Merch., I. 116. The rapid development and specialisation of industry.
1891. Lancet, 3 Oct., 774. We are opposed to the specialisation of hospitals.
