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“especially” in Latin

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

especially
imprimis (refers to a distinction possessed in common with others, and in as high a degree as by the first among them: it is added to adjectives and adverbs; may follow its word [vir magnus imprimis, Cic.], or have one interposed [id - imprimis ego memorabile, etc.] ; it may be joined to a superlative [which Kritz denies; Pr., Introd., ii., 889]; and also give prominence to a single word or action): praecipue (from prae and capere, refers to a distinction one possesses before and over others; nearly = “particularly,” opposed to communiter, communis. Hence, of what belongs especially to the ind ividual, and not to most men or all men, etc. It is PROP. used with verbs: sometimes, like praesertim, to give prominence to one word or notion): praesertim (prae, before; serere, to connect: it denotes that what is said applies in an especial degree to one case; it often, therefore, introduces an especial condition or case, praesertim cum; cum praesertim; praesertim si. It can not stand with the principal verb of the sentence. ☞ not virtus est praesertim, but praecipue, colenda], except when, after the general statement, it adds a case to which it particularly applies [e.g., ego tibi a vi, haec praesertim imbecillitate magistratuum, praestare non possum: deforme est de se ipso praedicare, falsa praesertim]): maxime (does not contain a comparison with others, but strengthens the predicate itself. A especially, but also B, maxime A, sed et B: especially because, maxime quod: especially if, maxime si, of what is to be done especially on a certain condition; e.g., scribe aliquid, et maxime si Pompeius etc., Cic.): potissimum (by preference to all others). ☞ Perhaps it may help the pupil to tell him that praecipue should be taken to express a higher degree than is common, etc.; praesertim, to define more particularly the case to which what has been said applies especially; it does not therefore go with verbs (not praesertim florere, but praecipue); maxime, to make a general statement apply with the most force to a particular case: ☞ imprimis occurs more than eleven times in Cic.; not twice only, as Sturenburg maintained. Epecially if, praesertim si; maxime si (Vid: under maxime, above. ☞ Never praecipue si or cum). A and epecially B, cum A, tum imprimis B; cum or tum A, tum maxime B; ut A, tum maxime B (rare; Cic.): especially because, maxime quod. But especially, praesertim or imprimis autem (☞ not praesertim vero or autem). And especially, imprimisque; et praesertim; maximeque. Maxime is often strengthened by vel (e.g., hoc uno praestamus vel maxime feris, quod etc.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for especially?
The usual Latin words for “especially” are imprimō, praecipuus, praesertim; also maximus, pote, capiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.