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Webster 1913 Edition
Preeminent
Pre-ëm′i-nent
,Adj.
[L.
praeminens
, -entis
, p. pr. praeminere
to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F. prééminent
. See Pre-
, and Eminent
.] Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent; superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of, others; rarely, surpassing others in evil, or in bad qualities;
as,
. preëminent
in guiltIn goodness and in power
preëminent
. Milton.