par excellence

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Adjective 1.2.1 Translations 1.2.2 Quotations 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Adjective

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Borrowed from the French par excellence (“‘by excellence’”).

[edit] Adjective

par excellence (not comparable)

1. Being the best of its kind.
2. Being a quintessential example of the kind in question.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Quotations

• 2009, Dante Alighieri, Stanley Lombardo, Inferno,

  The Roman Senate conferred the honorific title of Augustus (the imperial title par excellence) upon Octavian in 27 BCE.

• 2009, John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion,

  He was par excellence a theologian

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /paʁ ɛk.sɛ.lɑ̃s/

[edit] Adjective

par excellence

1. by or in virtue of excellence