excellens Latin · revision 8194

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la excellō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɛksˈkɛl.lẽːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eksˈt͡ʃɛl.lens]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''excellēns''' (genitive excellentis, comparative excellentior, superlative excellentissimus, adverb excellenter); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Petronius has the neuter ''excellente'' for ''excellēns'', and Silius the genitive plural ''excellentum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the participle of [[excellō]] “to rise above, excel”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of the pre-eminent.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant pre-eminent, outstanding, often as a compliment, as in Cicero, and in Apuleius high, lofty.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''ēminēns'', ''excellēns'', ''praeclārus'' and ''praestāns'' acknowledge superiority quietly, while ''ēgregius'' does so with enthusiasm.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant distinguished, excellent.^(Stelten 1995) It survives in Italian ''eccellente'', French ''excellent'' and Spanish ''excelente'', and through Old French it gave [[en|excellent]] in the mid-14th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the outstanding.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of the lofty.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''excellent'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # High, lofty.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Pre-eminent, outstanding, [[m|en|excellent]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[excellō]]

+ * [[excellentia]]

+ * [[en|excellent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from [[ēgregius]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}