v. Also 5–8 excell(e. [ad. F. excelle-r, ad. L. excellĕre to rise above others, be eminent, f. ex- (see EX- prefix1) + *cellĕre to rise high, tower, a vb. found only in compds., whose root appears in the adj. celsus lofty.]
1. intr. To be superior or preëminent in the possession of some quality, or in the performance of some action, usually in a good sense; to surpass others. Const. in, sometimes at.
14[?]. Circumcis., in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 92. And the thyrd he calleth holyness For hit excelleth in perfeccion.
c. 1430. Lydg., Lyfe St. Albon (1534), A ij. His goodnes so hyghly doth excell.
1529. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1206/1. Some other vertue … wherein the ryche manne maye … excelle.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 17. Pecocks, that excell in pride.
1611. Bible, Gen. xlix. 4. Vnstable as water, thou shalt not excell.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 185. They are to say truly a warlike and valiant but desperate Nation, excell in theeuing.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 15. Let those teach others who themselves excel.
1781. Cowper, Retirement, 793. The Power That … Bids these in elegance or form excel.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. x. 79. Ambitious of excelling at the game.
1811. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, I. 132. Scott certainly does not excel in the Spenser stanza.
† b. To be in greater proportion than another thing; to preponderate; = EXCEED 5. Obs.
16[?]. Tarquin & Tullia. It was hard to tell, Whether its [the land’s] guilt or losses did excel.
2. trans. To be superior to (others) in the possession of some quality, or in the performance of some action; usually in a good sense; to outdo, surpass. Const. in, occas. at.
1493. Petronilla (Pynson), 6. Petronylla … All other maydyns excelled in fairenesse.
1514. Barclay, Egloge, ii. (1570). The wretched lazar … Hath life which doth the courters life excell.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. xii. 35. A wicked hag, and Envy selfe excelling In mischiefe.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 490. I … see How beauty is excelld by manly grace And wisdom.
1675. Hobbes, Odyssey (1677), 86. We do all other men excel At wrestling … leaping, running well.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 273, ¶ 2. Homer has excelled all the heroic poets that ever wrote, in the multitude and variety of his characters.
1768. W. Gilpin, Ess. Prints (ed. 2), 161. Goupy very happily caught the manner of Salvator; and in some things excelled him.
1820. Shelley, Hymn to Mercury, ii. She gave to light a babe all babes excelling.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, Introd. The Castle may excel us in extent of prospect and natural sublimity of site.
b. To surpass (another’s qualities or work). rare.
1611. Heywood, Gold. Age, I. Wks. 1874, III. 14. Stay, let me first reward the Oracle, It told me Sibill should produce a sonne, That should his Fathers vertues much excell, Cease on my Crowne, and driue me downe to Hell.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Pope, Wks. IV. 18. He has excelled every composition of the same kind.
† 3. a. To be greater than, exceed. b. To be too hard or great for, overpower. Obs.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 884. She op’nd, but to shut Excel’d her power. Ibid., VIII. 456. An object that excels the sense.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 5. A well proportion’d Antechamber, ought … in length … not to excel the breadth.
