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specie (n.)
"coin, money in the form of coins, metallic money as a medium of exchange" (as opposed to paper money or bullion), 1670s, a noun use from the Medieval Latin phrase in specie "in minted coins" (attested in English by 1610s). This was a specialized sense in reference to money; the broader and classical meaning of in specie was "in kind; in the real, precise, or actual form" (1550s in English). Latin specie is ablative singular of species "kind, sort; appearance, form" (see species).
updated on April 22, 2022
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Dictionary entries near specie
specialization
specialize
specially
specialty
speciation
specie
species
speciesism
specific
specification
specificity