Where does “especially” come from?
Especially comes from Middle English -ly added to Latin specialis, itself from Latin specio with the suffix -alis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm with Latin -alis.
especially (English): In a special manner; specially; Particularly; to...
Definitions
- In a special manner; specially; Particularly; to...
Ancestry of “especially”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | especial | Exceptional in importance or significance;... |
| 2 | Middle English | especial | — |
| 3 | Old French | especial | special; powerful; mighty |
| 4 | Latin | specialis | specific |
| 5 | Latin | speciēs | seeing, view, look |
| 6 | Latin | speciō | to observe, watch, look at |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | spekjō | to observe, to see |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | spéḱyeti | to be looking at, to keep looking at |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | speḱ- | to see, to look, to observe |