\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.

\Spe*cif"ic\, n.
1. (Med.) A specific remedy. See {Specific}, a., 3.
         His parents were weak enough to believe that the
         royal touch was a specific for this malady.
                                               --Macaulay.
2. Anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which
   it is applied. --Dr. H. More.