Ex"cel*lent (?), 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.

To love . . . What I see excellent in good or fair. Milton.

2.

Superior in kind or degree, irrespective of moral quality; -- used with words of a bad significance.

[Obs. or Ironical] "An excellent hypocrite."

Hume.

Their sorrows are most excellent. Beau. & Fl.

Syn. -- Worthy; choice; prime; valuable; select; exquisite; transcendent; admirable; worthy.

 

© Webster 1913.


Ex"cel*lent, adv.

Excellently; eminently; exceedingly.

[Obs.] "This comes off well and excellent."

Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.