The Peculiar People
Preserved but no longer current.
Properly, the Jews— the "Chosen people*; but taken as a title by a sect founded m 1838, the chief characteristic of which is that its members refuse all medical aid and, as a consequence, are frequently m con- flict with the authorities. They have a strong belief m the efficacy of prayer; subscribe to no creed and have no recognized preachers or clergy. The name is based on Titus ii, 14 — "tc^ purify unto himself a peculiar people.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Peculiar People” mean?
Properly, the Jews— the "Chosen people*; but taken as a title by a sect founded m 1838, the chief characteristic of which is that its members refuse all medical aid and, as a consequence, are frequently m con- flict with the authorities. They have a strong belief m the efficacy of prayer; subscribe to no creed and have no recognized preachers or clergy. The name is based on Titus ii, 14 — "tc^ purify unto himself a peculiar people.
Is “The Peculiar People” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.