v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Excelled p. pr. & vb. n. Excelling. ] [ L. excellere, excelsum; ex out + a root found in culmen height, top; cf. F. exceller. See Culminate, Column. ] 1. To go beyond or surpass in good qualities or laudable deeds; to outdo or outgo, in a good sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

Excelling others, these were great;
Thou, greater still, must these excel. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. Eccl. ii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To exceed or go beyond; to surpass. [ 1913 Webster ]

She opened; but to shut
Excelled her power; the gates wide open stood. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To surpass others in good qualities, laudable actions, or acquirements; to be distinguished by superiority; as, to excel in mathematics, or classics. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel. Gen. xlix. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then peers grew proud in horsemanship t' excel. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. excellence, L. excellentia. ] 1. The quality of being excellent; state of possessing good qualities in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Consider first that great
Or bright infers not excellence. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An excellent or valuable quality; that by which any one excels or is eminent; a virtue. [ 1913 Webster ]

With every excellence refined. Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A title of honor or respect; -- more common in the form excellency. [ 1913 Webster ]

I do greet your excellence
With letters of commission from the king. Shak.

Syn. -- Superiority; preëminence; perfection; worth; goodness; purity; greatness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Excellencies 1. Excellence; virtue; dignity; worth; superiority. [ 1913 Webster ]

His excellency is over Israel. Ps. lxviii. 34. [ 1913 Webster ]

Extinguish in men the sense of their own excellency. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A title of honor given to certain high dignitaries, esp. to viceroys, ministers, and ambassadors, to English colonial governors, etc. It was formerly sometimes given to kings and princes. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Excellently; eminently; exceedingly. [ Obs. ] “This comes off well and excellent.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. excellent, L. excellens, -entis, p. pr. of excellere. See Excel. ] 1. Excelling; surpassing others in some good quality or the sum of qualities; of great worth; eminent, in a good sense; superior; as, an excellent man, artist, citizen, husband, discourse, book, song, etc.; excellent breeding, principles, aims, action. [ 1913 Webster ]

To love . . .
What I see excellent in good or fair. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Superior in kind or degree, irrespective of moral quality; -- used with words of a bad significance. [ Obs. or Ironical ] “An excellent hypocrite.” Hume. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their sorrows are most excellent. Beau. & Fl.

Syn. -- Worthy; choice; prime; valuable; select; exquisite; transcendent; admirable; worthy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In an excellent manner; well in a high degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In a high or superior degree; -- in this literal use, not implying worthiness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When the whole heart is excellently sorry. J. Fletcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ a. [ L., compar. of excelsus elevated, lofty, p. p. of excellere. See Excel, v. t. ] More lofty; still higher; ever upward. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kind of stuffing for upholstered furniture, mattresses, etc., in which curled shreds of wood are substituted for curled hair. [ 1913 Webster ]