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.