Category:Excel

Ex*cel", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Excelling.] Etym: [L. excellere, excelsum; ex out + a root found in culmen height, top; cf. F. exceller. See Culminate, Column.]

1. 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.

2. To exceed or go beyond; to surpass. She opened; but to shut Excelled her power; the gates wide open stood. Milton.

excel Ex*cel", v. i.

Defn: 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.