especial
Americanadjective
-
special; exceptional; outstanding.
of no especial importance; an especial friend.
-
of a particular kind, or peculiar to a particular one; particular.
your especial case.
adjective
-
unusual; notable; exceptional
he paid especial attention to her that evening
-
applying to one person or thing in particular; not general; specific; peculiar
he had an especial dislike of relatives
Usage
Especial and especially have a more limited use than special and specially. Special is always used in preference to especial when the sense is one of being out of the ordinary: a special lesson; he has been specially trained. Special is also used when something is referred to as being for a particular purpose: the word was specially underlined for you. Where an idea of pre-eminence or individuality is involved, either especial or special may be used: he is my especial (or special ) friend; he is especially (or specially ) good at his job. In informal English, however, special is usually preferred in all contexts
Commonly Confused
See special.
Other Word Forms
- especialness noun
Etymology
Origin of especial
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Latin speciālis pertaining to a particular kind. See special
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rather than shrink in embarrassment, the singer poked fun at himself on his Instagram story with a caption that read: “Estaba en especial”/”It was on sale.”
From Los Angeles Times
The Hubble Space Telescope, freed from the tethers of gravity and the blurriness of the atmosphere, can produce images of especial clarity.
From Salon
Shannon’s father’s deathbed sequence is an especial corker.
From New York Times
“One thing I leave in your especial care,” she said, the night before she left.
From Literature
“His case in your diary interest me much, and it had bearing, too, now and again on our case. I should much like to see him, and especial when his mind is disturbed.”
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
