Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb To an extent or degree deserving of special emphasis; particularly.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an especial manner; particularly; principally; chiefly; peculiarly; specially; in reference to one person or thing in particular.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In an especial manner; chiefly; particularly; peculiarly; in an uncommon degree.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb manner In a special manner; specially
  • adverb focus particularly; to a greater extent than is normal
  • adverb focus Used to place greater emphasis upon someone or something

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a special manner
  • adverb to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

especial +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • Well, I'm going to steer clear of the predictions for full-fledged 'virtual reality' - I think those are probably way too far off to be realistic, especially as they were suggested in the 1980s and we've not gotten *especially* closer.

    Gaze into your Crystal Ball 2007

  • It is to be noted, that the apostle saith not, "Let the presbyters that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially because they labor in the word -- for then he should have pointed at the distinct offices of ministers;" but he saith, _especially they that labor_, which clearly carries the sense to the distinction of elders themselves, who have distinct employments.

    The Divine Right of Church Government by Sundry Ministers Of Christ Within The City Of London

  • "Dreadful!" moaned Sister Ann. "Adnah goes about sighing all the day, and looks over-long in the mirror, and takes unseemly pains with her dressing, and does up her hair with flowers, and has feverishly pink cheeks, and likes to sit in a corner and brood, and takes long walks by herself, and especially, _especially_, seems fond of moonlight!"

    The Wit and Humor of America, Volume V. (of X.) Various 1887

  • Most feminists I had come across, especially the ones close to my age (20s) are pro-porn (or at least, "pro free speech" to the point of being indifferent to porn) and are condescending to those of us who are against pornography - * especially* when someone, like me, is against porn because of her emotions and gut and has no educated, rational, research-backed reasons to give.

    Women's Space 2008

  • 10, "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision:" where _especially_ distinguishes

    The Divine Right of Church Government by Sundry Ministers Of Christ Within The City Of London

  • As for Antonio and Chick, much as they might support the concept of giving citywide electeds another term especially for controller and city attorneythey both know that the timing would be worse than awful for them to attempt to support such a measure at this time.

    Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Tuesday 2007

  • The three-letter “job,” with its can-do implications, also makes the term especially American.

    As American as Apple Pie Hitchens, Christopher 2006

  • The three-letter “job,” with its can-do implications, also makes the term especially American.

    As American as Apple Pie Hitchens, Christopher 2006

  • Several poems compiled with great variety of wit and learning, full of delight; wherein especially is contained a compleat discourse, and description of the four elements, constitutions, ages of man, seasons of the year.

    Several Poems Compiled with Great Variety of Wit and Learning, Full of Delight 1678

  • In its narrow sense, the term especially refers to certain English fictions of the period from 1764 to 1820, with The Castle of Otranto, a Gothic Story by Horace Walpole as the herald, and Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Robert Maturin as the "terminator".

    magic-city-news.com 2009

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