excelsior
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Latin excelsior, comparative of excelsus (“‘high’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
excelsior (not comparable)
|
Positive |
Superlative |
- (archaic) Loftier, yet higher; ever upward
[edit] Noun
|
Singular |
Plural |
excelsior (uncountable)
- An originally copyrighted name for stuffing material (as for furniture and mattresses) made of slender, curled wood shavings, as a substitute for hair.
- 1942, Elliot Paul, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Sickle Moon 2001, p. 91:
- These little mangers, with baby dolls representing Jesus, porcelean Josephs and Marys, wide-eyed cows of papier-mâché, and excelsior for straw, were purchased by pious parents for well-behaved children at Christmas-tide.
- 1942, Elliot Paul, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Sickle Moon 2001, p. 91:
[edit] Usage notes
- This word is sometimes thought to be an adverb, which, perhaps, is inspired by the sounding quite adverbish common "ever upward" translation from Latin.
- "Excelsior!" is the motto of the state of New York.
[edit] Translations
An originally copyrighted name for stuffing material (as for furniture and mattresses) made of slender, curled wood shavings
[edit] Latin
[edit] Etymology
From excelsus (“‘elevated, lofty’”).
[edit] Adjective
excelsior (comparative of excelsus)
[edit] Inflection
- Third declension, comparative variation (3:COM).
| Number | Singular | Plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case \ Gender | M.F. | N. | MM.FF. | NN. | |
| nominative | excelsior | excelsius | excelsiōrēs | excelsiōra | |
| genitive | excelsiōris | excelsiōris | excelsiōrum | excelsiōrum | |
| dative | excelsiōrī | excelsiōrī | excelsiōribus | excelsiōribus | |
| accusative | excelsiōrem | excelsius | excelsiōrēs | excelsiōra | |
| ablative | excelsiōre | excelsiōre | excelsiōribus | excelsiōribus | |
| vocative | excelsior | excelsius | excelsiōrēs | excelsiōra | |