Etymology

especial

es·pe·cial
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Today it means: Exceptional in importance or significance; special. Full definition →

Middle English especial ← Old French especial ← Latin specialis
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromspecialis
  2. Old French · derived fromespecial
  3. Middle English · inherited fromespecial
  4. English todayespecial

From Middle English especial, via Old French especial, from Latin specialis, from species (“appearance, form, beauty”), from specere (“to look”). Doublet of special. Related to species.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.