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excellens

Etymology and origin of the Latin word excellens

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (excellō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɛksˈkɛl.lẽːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eksˈt͡ʃɛl.lens][1]

Forms

excellēns (genitive excellentis, comparative excellentior, superlative excellentissimus, adverb excellenter); third-declension one-termination adjective[1] Petronius has the neuter excellente for excellēns, and Silius the genitive plural excellentum.[2]

Etymology

It is the participle of excellō “to rise above, excel”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of the pre-eminent.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant pre-eminent, outstanding, often as a compliment, as in Cicero, and in Apuleius high, lofty.[2] Döderlein explains that ēminēns, excellēns, praeclārus and praestāns acknowledge superiority quietly, while ēgregius does so with enthusiasm.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant distinguished, excellent.[6] It survives in Italian eccellente, French excellent and Spanish excelente, and through Old French it gave English excellent in the mid-14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the outstanding.[2][4]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of the lofty.[2][4]
  • mid-14th century – English excellent is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. High, lofty.[2]
  2. Pre-eminent, outstanding, excellent.[2]

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from ēgregius.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Excellens.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/excellens. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·