excellent English · revision 3720

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1382|origins=la excellō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈek.sᵊl.ᵊnt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|excellent]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|excellent|t=outstanding, excellent]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|excellēns|t=towering, prominent, surpassing]] (accusative excellentem),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) present participle of [[m|la|excellere|t=to surpass; to rise, be eminent]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|ex-|t=out from]] and -cellere “to rise high”, related to [[m|la|celsus|t=high, lofty]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*kel-|t=to be prominent; hill]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[excel]], [[excellence]] and [[excellency]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Excelling, outstanding: 1382 in the OED, in a favourable sense,^(OED 1989) and the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) At first it could refer to either a good or a bad quality, outstanding in either way.^(NODE 1998)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In a bad or neutral sense, as in an ''excellent'' villain, it is from 1588 and now obsolete or archaic.^(OED 1989) “Excelling in rank or dignity, exalted” is from about 1400,^(OED 1989) and it was used as a title of address from 1611.^(OED 1989) “Haughty, assuming superiority” is from about 1430.^(OED 1989) The current sense, an emphatic term of praise, “extremely good”, grew out of the first one^(OED 1989) and dates from the early 17th century, 1604 in the OED.^(NODE 1998)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – excelling, in a good sense.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – exalted in rank.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – haughty.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1588 – in a bad sense.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1604 – extremely good.^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998)

+ * 1611 – as a title of address.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the highest quality; exceptionally good.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Superior; [[surpass|alt=surpassing]] others.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[excellently]]

+ * [[superexcellent]]

+ * [[unexcellent]]

+ * [[excellence]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[excel]]

+ * [[excellency]]

+ * [[culminate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}