Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Specific \Spe*cif"ic\, a. [F. sp['e]cifique, or NL. cpesificus;
   L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf.
   {Specify}.]
   1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or
      constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property
      or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and
      distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of
      an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug;
      the specific distinction between virtue and vice.

            Specific difference is that primary attribute which
            distinguishes each species from one another. --I.
                                                  Watts.

   2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited;
      precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.

   3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the
      body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption,
      and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific
      medicine in cases of malaria.

            In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the
            perfection of the science.            --Coleridge.

   {Specific character} (Nat. Hist.), a characteristic or
      characteristics distinguishing one species from every
      other species of the same genus.

   {Specific disease} (Med.)
      (a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect
          upon the blood and tissues or upon some special
          tissue.
      (b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a
          definite and peculiar poison or organism.

   {Specific duty}. (Com.) See under {Duty}.

   {Specific gravity}. (Physics) See under {Gravity}.

   {Specific heat} (Physics), the quantity of heat required to
      raise temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit
      of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight
      of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat
      of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000.

   {Specific inductive capacity} (Physics), the effect of a
      dielectric body in producing static electric induction as
      compared with that of some other body or bodies referred
      to as a standard.

   {Specific legacy} (Law), a bequest of a particular thing, as
      of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified
      and distinguished from all others. --Wharton. --Burrill.

   {Specific name} (Nat., Hist.), the name which, appended to
      the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of
      the species; -- originally applied by Linn[ae]us to the
      essential character of the species, or the essential
      difference. The present specific name he at first called
      the {trivial name}.

   {Specific performance} (Law), the peformance of a contract or
      agreement as decreed by a court of equity.



   2. That which a person is bound by moral obligation to do, or
      refrain from doing; that which one ought to do; service
      morally obligatory.

            Forgetting his duty toward God, his sovereign lord,
            and his country.                      --Hallam.

   3. Hence, any assigned service or business; as, the duties of
      a policeman, or a soldier; to be on duty.

            With records sweet of duties done.    --Keble.

            To employ him on the hardest and most imperative
            duty.                                 --Hallam.

            Duty is a graver term than obligation. A duty hardly
            exists to do trivial things; but there may be an
            obligation to do them.                --C. J. Smith.

   4. Specifically, obedience or submission due to parents and
      superiors. --Shak.

   5. Respect; reverence; regard; act of respect; homage. ``My
      duty to you.'' --Shak.

   6. (Engin.) The efficiency of an engine, especially a steam
      pumping engine, as measured by work done by a certain
      quantity of fuel; usually, the number of pounds of water
      lifted one foot by one bushel of coal (94 lbs. old
      standard), or by 1 cwt. (112 lbs., England, or 100 lbs.,
      United States).

   7. (Com.) Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise; any sum of
      money required by government to be paid on the
      importation, exportation, or consumption of goods.

   Note: An impost on land or other real estate, and on the
         stock of farmers, is not called a duty, but a direct
         tax. [U.S.]

   {Ad valorem duty}, a duty which is graded according to the
      cost, or market value, of the article taxed. See {Ad
      valorem}.

   {Specific duty}, a duty of a specific sum assessed on an
      article without reference to its value or market.

   {On duty}, actually engaged in the performance of one's
      assigned task.