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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
especial
adjective
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Angullas-Villanueva were especial favorites of hers.
▪ He seemed to expect if not especial thanks, at least some expression of wonder.
▪ It is occurring at especial speed in those countries in which development has been recent and fast.
▪ Such a policy would be of especial benefit to bilingual or multilingual children.
▪ The latter were treated with especial courtesy, being provided with the best seats and a translation service.
▪ The weakening of party and the creation of a strong committee system are seen as of especial importance in this regard.
▪ There would be an especial pleasure in using Gordon Beamish's name.
▪ There would seem to be three points of especial significance. 1 Carers are not a homogeneous group.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Especial

Especial \Es*pe"cial\, a. [OF. especial, F. sp['e]cial, L. specialis, fr. species a particular sort, kind, or quality. See Species, and cf. Special.] Distinguished among others of the same class or kind; special; concerning a species or a single object; principal; particular; as, in an especial manner or degree.

Syn: Peculiar; special; particular; uncommon; chief. See Peculiar.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
especial

late 14c., from Old French especial "pre-eminent, important," from Latin specialis "belonging to a particular kind or species," from species "kind" (see species). Latin words with initial sp-, st-, sc- usually acquired an e- in Old French (see e-). Modern French has restored the word to spécial. In English, originally with the same sense as special (adj.), later restricted to feelings, qualities, etc.

Wiktionary
especial

a. 1 Of exceptional importance or significance. 2 particular to an individual.

WordNet
especial

adj. surpassing what is common or usual or expected; "he paid especial attention to her"; "exceptional kindness"; "a matter of particular and unusual importance"; "a special occasion"; "a special reason to confide in her"; "what's so special about the year 2000?" [syn: especial(a), exceptional, particular(a), special]

Usage examples of "especial".

It has been proposed that these words refer to a sort of alchemy for farming, and that therefore agrichemicals are some especial sort of manure.

Then nought would do but he must say farewell to several of the children who had become especial favorites: the Dalt boy and Lady Blackmonts brood and the round-faced orphan girl whose father had sold cloth and spices up and down the Greenblood.

The Jews must bear in mind with especial clearness that their fate is closely and inseparably interwoven with the fate of the general emancipatory movement in Russia.

What made the letter of especial interest to the professor was the fact that it gave the location of a ledge of gold, not far from the old Happenchance placerings.

Blessed Virgin in order to pay especial honor to the protectress of our national independence and universal mediatrix of the Christian Commonwealth.

King is happily shown in moderating the sentence of the law, where for certain reasons it bears with especial hardness on anyone.

However, he skipped and shadow-boxed in the sun with especial vigour, and finished up with Orace splashing a couple of buckets of water over him, what time the Saint lay on the grass drawing deep grateful breaths and blessing his perfect condition.

In this capacity it was his good fortune to live in the families of the substantial tenantry of the district, two of whom, the farmers at Clunes and Glen Pean, were led to evince an especial interest in his welfare.

Segal chegasse, pois gostaria de conversar sobre um assunto especial que dependia muito deles.

On the eve of an especial fast of the Romish Church, while the bell tolled dismally, and the priests were chanting a doleful stave, a band of New England rangers rushed from the surrounding woods.

Guide to Signor Mantissa must accord them an asterisk denoting especial interest.

One especial aspect of this is the strange way in which the evils of the Marrer, or his inheritors, are turned into weapons against evil.

I feel, beyond question, that it is nothing less than nighted Yuggoth--and I shiver when I try to figure out the real reason why its monstrous denizens wish it to be known in this way at this especial time.

This is like the school for morals offered by the sermons, the precepts, and the tales which our instructors recite for our especial benefit.

He bound Shairn securely with strips torn from her own garments, taking especial care with the gag.