Middle English Dictionary Entry
prēcellent adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | prēcellent adj. |
| Etymology | L praecellens, -entis, ppl. of praecellere v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Pre-eminent, outstanding; (b) ben ~, to surpass (sb.), be superior to.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.2.13 : Be ȝe suget to eche creature of man, for God; other to the kyng, as precellent [vr. more worthi; L præcellenti] or more worthi in staat, other to dukis.
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)64/19 : Be ȝe subiecte to al mannes creature for God; ouþer to þe kyng, as to hym þat is precellente or passyng.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.39 : Fulbertus..was in this tyme a man precellente in the luffe of our blissede lady.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.219 : The philosophres that were diuines were precellente alle other kyndes off philosophres.