excellentia Latin · revision 9536

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɛk.skɛlˈlɛn.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ek.ʃelˈlɛn.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''excellentia''' ''f'' (genitive excellentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[excellēns]], present participle of [[excellō]] “to rise above, excel”, with the suffix [[-ia]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Gaffiot cites his ''De officiīs''.^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was superiority, pre-eminence, excellence, as in Cicero, ''per excellentiam'' meant par excellence.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Medieval Latin ''excellentia vestra'' “your Excellency” was a title of honour.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin used it for excellence and high status, also in theology, grammar and medicine.^(DMLBS) [[en|excellency]] (about 1200, “high rank”, a title from the early 14th century) and [[en|excellence]] (mid-14th century) come from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''excellency'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Superiority, pre-eminence, [[m|en|excellence]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' ''excellentia vestra'' Your [[m|en|excellency|alt=Excellency]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[excellēns]]

+ * [[excellenter]]

+ * [[excellō]]

+ * [[excelsitās]]

+ * [[excelsus]]

+ * [[en|excellence]]

+ * [[en|excellency]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}