preeminent

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled pre-eminent and pre-eminently

US /priːˈɛmənənt/ UK /pɹiːˈɛmɪnənt/ See IPA manual

adj Freq #58522

Meanings

1

adj
Better than all others; outstanding in rank or quality.

She is the preeminent expert on Roman coins in the country.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · better than all others;... leading foremost supreme

Word family

Forms preeminently

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French preeminent and its source, Latin praeēminēns, present participle of praeēmineō (“to stand out, excel”), from prae- (“pre-”) + ēmineō.

praeēminēns Latin

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Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# preeminent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** priːˈɛmənənt
**IPA (UK):** pɹiːˈɛmɪnənt
**Frequency rank:** 58522

## Meanings
1. Better than all others; outstanding in rank or quality.

## Examples
- She is the preeminent expert on Roman coins in the country.

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: praeēminēns

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French preeminent and its source, Latin praeēminēns, present participle of praeēmineō (“to stand out, excel”), from prae- (“pre-”) + ēmineō.

## AI Etymology
Preeminent is borrowed from Middle French preeminent and its source, Latin praeēminēns, present participle of praeēmineō (“to stand out, excel”), from prae- (“pre-”) + ēmineō. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include praeēminēns (Latin). Current senses include better than all others; outstanding in rank or quality.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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