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verb distinguish oneself
stand out; surpass.
WordNet
Ex*cel" transitive verb
Etymology
L.
excellere,
excelsum;
ex out + a root found in
culmen height, top; cf. F.
exceller. See
Culminate,
Column.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Excelled; present participle & verbal noun Excelling
Definitions
- 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.
- To exceed or go beyond; to surpass.
She opened; but to shut
Excelled her power; the gates wide open stood.
Milton.
Ex*cel" intransitive verb
Definitions
- 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
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