excellency etymology

Etymology:

  • From French excellence, from Latin excellentia, from excellere ("to surpass, excel").

Meaning:

  • The quality or state of being outstanding or superior in quality or performance.
  • A person or thing that is outstanding or superior.
  • An honorific title used for high-ranking officials, dignitaries, and members of royalty.

Origin:

The Latin word excellere originally meant "to stand above" or "to be prominent." In classical Latin, it came to be used more abstractly to mean "to be superior" or "to excel." From the Latin noun excellentia ("the quality of being excellent"), the French word excellence was derived.

In English, the word "excellency" was first used in the late 14th century. It initially referred to the quality of being excellent, but by the 16th century, it had also come to be used as a title for high officials and dignitaries. In diplomatic usage, the title "Your Excellency" is typically reserved for ambassadors, governors, and other high-ranking officials.

excellency relate terms

  • excellent

    Etymology Excellent Late Middle English in the sense transcending what is ordinary

  • excellence

    Etymology of Excellence Latin excellentia French excellence Middle English excelle

  • national

    Etymology The word national comes from the Latin word nationalis which means of or

  • feature

    Etymology Latin facere to make to do Old French feiture making deed Middle

  • characteristic

    Etymology Character lt Latin character engraving tool writing implement character

  • personage

    Etymology Greek persona meaning mask or actor s role Meaning A personage

  • assess

    Etymology Etymology refers to the study of the origin and evolution of words and the chan

  • deadline

    Etymology deadline n early 1900s originally in journalism from dead adj line n

  • intuitive

    Etymology Latin intuere to gaze at consider understand Intuitio a looking at

  • clout

    Etymology The word clout is derived from the Middle English word clout which in turn

  • iron

    Etymology The word iron comes from the Old English word īren which is derived from