From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
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]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
[1913 Webster]