Par excellence
/ˌpɑr ˌɛksəˈlɑn(t)s/ adj, adv
adj, adv ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Most excellent, variously intending; Being the proper or truest example of a general name. not-comparable, postpositional
"The Santo (which is St. Antonio's church, called il Santo par excellence) […]"
- 2 Most excellent, variously intending; Being a quintessential example of a general type. not-comparable, postpositional
"This is the age of invention, most certainly—the age, one may say—the age par excellence."
Adverb
- 1 Because or on account of one's excellence. not-comparable
"The name of Venus is in deede but bautye, And men me fayrest call, per excellencye."
- 2 Most excellently, variously intending; Most especially, in particular, most notably (out of a thing or person's other attributes, roles, etc.). not-comparable
"He was par excellence a theologian."
- 3 Most excellently, variously intending; In a superior way, in the most representative or fully-developed manner. not-comparable
"She was par excellence the vigilant member of the house-hold."
Adverb
- 1 to a degree of excellence wordnet
Example
More examples"The name of Venus is in deede but bautye, And men me fayrest call, per excellencye."
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from French par excellence (“excellently, in an especially representative way; above all”), a calque of Latin per excellentiam, itself a calque of Ancient Greek κατ’ ἐξοχήν (kat’ exokhḗn).