Ex*cel" (?), 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.
Excelling others, these were great;
Thou, greater still, must these excel.
Prior.
I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Eccl. ii. 13.
2.
To exceed or go beyond; to surpass.
She opened; but to shut
Excelled her power; the gates wide open stood.
Milton.
© Webster 1913.
Ex*cel", v. i.
To surpass others in good qualities, laudable actions, or acquirements; to be distinguished by superiority; as, to excel in mathematics, or classics.
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel.
Gen. xlix. 4.
Then peers grew proud in horsemanship t' excel.
Pope.
© Webster 1913.