v. Forms: 4–6 specyfy (5–6 specyfe), 4–7 specifie, 4– specify (5–6 -fe); 4 specefie, 5–6 -fy, 6 -fye (6 specief-, speesyf-). [a. OF. specifier (13th c.; mod.F. spécifier, Prov., Sp. especificar, It. specificare), ad. med.L. specificāre to describe, mention, note particularly or specifically.]
† 1. intr. To speak or make relation of some matter fully or in detail. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27959. Forthermar o þis lecheri Agh i þe noght to specifie.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 86. If I therof schal specefie So as the Philosophre tolde, Nou herkne.
1487. Cely Papers (Camden), 161. I wrate ij letters to yow … specyfying of divers matters of Flaunders.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, 1. Whiche boke specyfyeth of the noble actes and fayttes of warre, achyeued by … Blanchardin.
2. trans. To mention, speak of, or name (something) definitely or explicitly; to set down or state categorically or particularly; to relate in detail. Usually said of persons, but sometimes of an act, document, etc.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3352. Now wille I som syns here specify For whilk þai duelle in purgatory.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 294. Petre specifieþ here mekenes, þat men shulde have bi ensaumple of Crist.
a. 1400. Harmony Gospels (MS. Bodl. 771), Prol. Here … biginneþ a table þat specifieþ euery chapitre … in þis book.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 10. They began to syng … This same roundelle wiche I schalle now specify.
1491. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 443/1. Any other greter charge, than in the said acte is specified.
1515. Barclay, Egloges, III. (1570), B vj b/2. Then haste thou wretched payne Of colde or of heate, of thirst, hunger and rayne. And mo other paynes then I will specify.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 233. A terrible tempest was lyke to enswe, as in the seventh booke is specifyed.
1600. E. Blount, Hosp. Incur. Fooles, 39. Yet had he no more in his armie, then we haue specified.
1648. Wilkins, Math. Magic, I. x. 61. It shall not therefore be impertinent … to specifie some of the most remarkable amongst them.
1766. Blackstone, Comm., II. 319. But then there must many requisites be observed, which the statute specifies, otherwise such leases are not binding.
1827. Jarman, Powell’s Devises, II. 329. If the number specified correspond with the number existing at the date of the will.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., II. vii. I. 215. The fact that the lords had not specified any particular subject of complaint … gave the king an obvious advantage.
1894. Solicitors’ Jrnl., XXXIX. 2/2. The … report … must state that fraud has been committed, though the guilty person need not be specified.
b. With clause as object, freq. introduced by that. † Also with to be or simple complement.
(a) c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 341. How crist specified to petre to ȝyue hym þe keyes of heuen.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 2451. For poetis specifye That goddys … Purposede of presumpsion To wrastle with this Champyon. Ibid. (1430–40), Bochas, IX. i. (1554), 20 b. To shewe and specifye He was the prophet that called was Messy.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XXI. i. 839. The letters specefyed that Kynge Arthur was slayn in bataylle.
1547. J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, f iij. Our Cronicles specifie yt those .xviii. kinges were in Englande.
1582. T. Watson, Centurie of Love, lxxii. (Arb.), 108. In this Sonnet The Authour seemeth to specifie, that his Beloued [etc.].
1834. K. H. Digby, Mores Cath., V. vi. 181. Philippe Augustus in founding a daily mass…, specifies that it shall be said early in the morning.
(b) 1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 288. Saynt Merwalde specyfyed vncle to saint Werburge.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 47. The … sede of Abraham, specifyed to be lyke in nomber to the starrs.
c. In pa. pple. with limiting adverb preceding (rarely following).
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, V. 3599. Þat noble myȝti conquerour, Herry þe Fyfþe, to-forn y-specefied.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1885), 140. A ffewe regions beffore specified.
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 389. In eny of them above specified.
1562. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 9. As we do to the warldly ignorantis abone specifiit.
1576. Fleming, trans. Caius’ Dogs (1880), 2. There are two sortes of Dogges by whose meanes, the feates within specifyed are wrought.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxx. 175. The essentiall Rights of Soveraignty (specified before in the eighteenth Chapter).
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 16. I could not onely see the long bristles formerly specified.
1710. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 153. The severall yearly few dutys above specified payable to us.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 185. Take thereof double the quantity above specified.
1800. T. Hull, in Med. Jrnl., III. 428. The patient has never suffered the least return of her fits since the time there specified.
d. With omission of direct object, esp. in clauses introduced by as.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 86. The ferste, if I schal specefie, Was lapis vegetabilis.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 2578. Liche as to ȝow I thenke specific [v.r. to specifie]. Ibid. (1433), St. Edmund, I. 96. Be sentence of prudent Carnotense In Enteticon where he doth specifie.
1532. More, Confut. Barnes, VIII. Wks. 812/1. The very true church of Christ … is … this one comon well knowen catholyke churche…, as I before haue specifyed.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. ii. 131. The rich Iewes man that would, sir, as my Father shall specifie.
1709. Hearne, in R. Glouc. Chron., II. 597. Accordingly several Editions follow’d with Improvements, as you have particularly specify’d in your Paper.
† 3. a. To make special mention of (a person); to celebrate. Obs.–1
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 733. Haile speciose, most specifyit with the spiritualis! Haile ordanit or Adam, and ay til indur!
† b. To exhibit or show (a quality, etc.) to advantage or in a special manner. Obs.–1
a. 1575. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden), 254. This certis was a singuler and notable fighte, wheerin the Englishe people didd well specifie their manwhode and valiance.
† 4. To call by a specific name. Obs.–1
1652. Selden, Domin. Sea, 21. Some of the aforesaid Autors speak with general words, saying the Sea of the Venitians; yet others do specifie it, using the name of the Gulf.
5. To invest with a specific character.
1645. Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 54. An intention to take satisfactory vengeance on the reprobate, specifieth his rod, and maketh it punishment of black wrath.
1676. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 421. An action is specified from its particular cause, not from the first universal cause.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 59. Only that Form which specifies the Matter is more powerful than other Forms.
1876. F. H. Bradley, Ethical Stud., 71. Be specified in yourself, but not specified by anything foreign to yourself.
† 6. intr. To develop into different species; to vary in kind or character. Obs.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva (1679), 3. Some there are, ‘Spring of themselves unforc’t by human care,’ Specifying according to the various disposition of the Air and Soil.
Hence Specifying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1673–4. [see SPECIAL a. 6 b].
1681. Baxter, Acc. Sherlocke, v. 204. Its species is the specifying Form.
1701. Norris, Ideal World, I. iii. 164. How then will you distinguish,… since ’tis himself that is still the specifying object in both?
1819[?]. Chalmers, Congregat. Serm., Wks. 1836, VIII. 368. That … which impresses on the mercy of the Gospel its essential and specifying characteristic.
