eminent

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈɛmɪnənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #18682

Meanings

1

adj
Famous and highly respected in a particular field.

The conference was opened by an eminent professor of physics.
2

adj
Outstanding or remarkable in degree.

His eminent good sense kept the negotiations on track.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · famous and highly respected... distinguished illustriousesteemed

2 adj · outstanding or remarkable... notable noteworthy remarkable

Word family

Derived forms eminence eminentlyeminentnesshypereminentpreeminentsupereminentuneminent

Related forms imminent prominent

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

eminent domain
a state's authority to acquire private property for public use

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Eminent, recorded in late Middle English with the meaning “outstanding,” goes back to Latin eminere, “to jut” or “project.” The same Latin verb is also found in pre-eminence and prominent.

Etymology

From Middle French éminent, from Latin present participle ēminēns, ēminentis, from verb ēmineō (“to project, protrude”), from ex- (“out of, from”) + mineō, related to mons (English mount). Compare with imminent. Unrelated to emanate, which is instead from mānō (“to flow”).

*men- Proto-Indo-European éminent Middle French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# eminent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈɛmɪnənt/
**Frequency rank:** 18682

## Meanings
1. Famous and highly respected in a particular field.
2. Outstanding or remarkable in degree.

## Examples
- The conference was opened by an eminent professor of physics.
- His eminent good sense kept the negotiations on track.

## Derived Forms
- eminence
- eminently
- eminentness
- hypereminent
- preeminent
- supereminent
- uneminent

## Related Forms
- imminent
- prominent

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *men-
- Root: éminent

## Etymology
From Middle French éminent, from Latin present participle ēminēns, ēminentis, from verb ēmineō (“to project, protrude”), from ex- (“out of, from”) + mineō, related to mons (English mount). Compare with imminent. Unrelated to emanate, which is instead from mānō (“to flow”).

## AI Etymology
Eminent is from Middle French éminent, from Latin present participle ēminēns, ēminentis, from verb ēmineō (“to project, protrude”), from ex- (“out of, from”) + mineō, related to mons (English mount). Compare with imminent. Unrelated to emanate, which is instead from mānō (“to flow”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include *men- (Proto-Indo-European) and éminent (Middle French). Current senses include famous and highly respected in a particular field and outstanding or remarkable in degree. The wider family includes derived forms such as eminence, eminently, eminentness, hypereminent, and preeminent; related words such as imminent and prominent.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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