特

Left ox radical (compressed form of 牛) - the indexing radical. The original meaning of 特 was 'a single male ox set apart from the herd', preserved in 特立独行 'standing out alone'. The breeding bull was a special, distinguished animal. From this came 'special, particular, outstanding'. Same radical anchors 牲 (livestock), 牧 (herd).

Right 寺 supplies the sound: sì → tè, with regular Old Chinese sibilant/dental drift. The s/t alternation appears across this phonetic family: 持 (hold), 待 (wait), 等 (wait/equal), 时 (time). Pure phonetic - the 'temple' meaning of 寺 doesn't contribute.