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Origin and history of specialization

specialization(n.)

1831, "act of becoming specialized, condition of differentiation," noun of action from specialize. The biological sense of "adaptation to a specific function" is from 1862. In science and scientific education, "a direction of time and energies in one particular channel to the exclusion of others," by 1880.

If you peruse the people in the news
The people that the magazines refer to
You'll find that they are naturally soignée
The special ones that all of us defer to
They've each a trait that seems to state first raters
That separates them from the small potaters
["Specialization," lyrics by Sammy Cahn]

also from 1831

Entries linking to specialization

specialize(v.)

1610s, "to indicate specially," from special (adj.) + -ize, perhaps on model of French spécialiser. The sense of "engage in a special study or line of business" is attested by 1881; the biological sense of "adapt to a specific function" is from 1851. Related: Specialized; specializing.

specialisation(n.)

chiefly British English spelling of specialization. For spelling, see -ize.

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    More to explore

    specialty
    c. 1300, "particular affection; special attachment or favor, partiality," from Old French especialte, the more vernacular form of specialite (see speciality). Compare personalty/personality; realty/reality. It is attested by early 15c. as "unusual or extraordinary thing, peculiar
    speciality
    early 15c., "a distinctive quality or thing;" mid-15c. as "quality of being special," from Old French specialte, especialte "nature, special quality, particularity; special point, distinction," and directly from Latin specialitatem (nominative specialitas) "peculiarity, particula
    addicted
    " (1560s) is reflexive, "self-addicted," from the notion of "give over or award (oneself) to someone or some practice;" specialization...
    swelter
    For specialization of words meaning "to die," compare starve. Related: Sweltered; sweltering....
    medical
    .); "healing, medicinal" (adj.), from medeor "to cure, heal," originally "know the best course for," from an early specialization...
    virus
    from a PIE root *ueis-, perhaps originally meaning "to melt away, to flow," used of foul or malodorous fluids, but with specialization...
    gas
    [Helmont, Ortus Medicinae] Modern scientific sense began 1779, with later secondary specialization to "combustible mix of...
    vocation
    early 15c., "spiritual calling," from Old French vocacion "call, consecration; calling, profession" (13c.) or directly from Latin vocationem (nominative vocatio), literally "a calling, a being called" from vocatus "called," past participle of vocare "to call," which is related to
    career
    1530s, "a running (usually at full speed), a course" (especially of the sun, etc., across the sky), from French carriere "road, racecourse" (16c.), from Old Provençal or Italian carriera, from Vulgar Latin *(via) cararia "carriage (road), track for wheeled vehicles," from Latin c
    adaptation
    c. 1600, "action of adapting (something to something else)," from French adaptation, from Late Latin adaptationem (nominative adaptatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of adaptare "to adjust," from ad "to" (see ad-) + aptare "to join," from aptus "fitted" (see apt). Th

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