most especially
7
3.9
- idiom
:
especialmente
- Most especially, an examination of Jim Northrup's writing will highlight another approach to recovery, the use of storytelling.
Not all, but most especially if someone who's gone through narcissistic abuse takes the time to get educated.
- Not all, but most especially if someone who's gone through narcissistic abuse takes the time to get educated.
Examples
-
The conference is important for all participants, most especially for those who are presenting their research.
-
I credit my work to many of the lessons learned from both of my parents, most especially the ethic of community service.
Academic text (2010) -
So important in this life and most especially in the next.
-
Life is short indeed, my friends; read only good books, most especially including The Good Book!
Blog text (8) -
I am a very concerned American, concerned for my children and most especially grandchildren.
Blog text (29) -
I knew that having kids, and most especially twins, would make my life much harder.
Blog text (14) -
I am referring, in fact, to all those recent academic constraints on private behavior, and most especially speech codes.
Academic text (1999) -
We were crushed last night at all levels, most especially in the MVP voting.
Blog text (34) -
Peter's last days in town were an agony for everyone, and most especially for Paxton.
Fiction book (1990) -
And it's October 31st, which is a special day across the country, but most especially in Salem, America's unofficial Halloween capital.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Shows that something is more true of one person or thing than others
77
2.1
More than anything else
35
2.8
To show that one thing matters more than others
7
2.4
To a greater degree than usual
1
7.9
In a way that is more important than other things
To be more important or noticeable than others
Antonyms
How Important
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines two standard intensifiers: 'most' (superlative/intensifier) plus 'especially' (particularly), so its meaning — a stronger degree of emphasis on one item — is directly derivable from the parts. This intensifier-stacking is a common, predictable composition in English (and has parallels in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Most especially comes from putting most (the highest amount) together with especially (to point out one thing). Imagine someone holding a small pile and pointing to the top item as the most important, so most especially means 'more important than anything else'.