despecificatev.
rare.
transitive. To deprive of its specific character.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > give a general character to [verb (transitive)] > deprive of specific character
despecificate1873
1873 F. Hall Mod. Eng. 305 Inaptitude and ineptitude have been usefully despecificated; and only the latter now imports ‘folly’.
1874 F. Hall in N. Amer. Rev. 119 327 With exceedingly few exceptions, our so-called synonyms..are distinctly despecificated.
Derivatives
despecifiˈcation n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [noun] > state of being non-specific > deprival of specific character
despecification1872
1872 J. Grote in Jrnl. Philol. IV. 63 Despecification (i.e. the word's becoming less specific and significant) which we might express by various metaphors, as degradation, detrition..is simply the want of point, sharpness, and definite significance which results from common..use of the word.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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v.1872