| Excellence | 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 ] |
| Excellency | 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 ] |
| Excellent | 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 ] |
