excelsior

English

Etymology

From Latin excelsior, comparative of excelsus (“high”). The name of the stuffing material was originally a trademark.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɛkˈsɛlsɪɔː/

Adjective

excelsior (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Loftier, yet higher, more elevated; ever upward
2. more surpassing, more excelling

Noun

excelsior (uncountable)

1. (US printing, dated) The size of type between Norse and brilliant, standardized as 3-point.
2. 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.

Synonyms

• (type size): (UK) minikin

Translations

3-point type

• Dutch: kwart cicero
• French: diamant (fr)
• German: Brillant (de), Viertelcicero

• Italian: diamante (it)
• Spanish: diamante (es)

stuffing made of slender, curled wood shavings

• Russian: древесная стружка f

• Tagalog: sulake

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Latin

Etymology

excelsus (“elevated”, “lofty”) +‎ -ior (suffix forming adjectives’ comparative degrees)

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ekˈskel.si.or/, [ɛkˈskɛɫ̪.si.ɔr]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /eksˈt͡ʃel.si.or/, [ɛksˈt͡ʃɛl.si.ɔr]

Adjective

excelsior (neuter excelsius, positive excelsus); third declension

1. higher, loftier, more elevated
2. more surpassing, (yet) more excelling

Declension

Third-declension comparative adjective.

Number	Singular			Plural
Case / Gender	Masc./Fem.	Neuter		Masc./Fem.	Neuter
Nominative	excelsior	excelsius		excelsiōrēs	excelsiōra
Genitive	excelsiōris			excelsiōrum
Dative	excelsiōrī			excelsiōribus
Accusative	excelsiōrem	excelsius		excelsiōrēs	excelsiōra
Ablative	excelsiōre			excelsiōribus
Vocative	excelsior	excelsius		excelsiōrēs	excelsiōra