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ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music. Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman. Shak. Soft were my numbers; who could take offense Pope.

Chief in excellence. [Obs.] The king hath drawn The special head of all the land together. Shak. Special administration (Law), an administration limited to certain specified effects or acts, or one granted during a particular time or the existence of a special cause, as during a controversy respecting the probate of a…

Any coniferous tree of the genus Picea, as the Norway spruce (P. excelsa), and the white and black spruces of America (P. alba and P. nigra), besides several others in the far Northwest. See Picea.

Not improving or getting worse; not growing wiser, greater, better, more excellent, or the contrary.

aking of, or exemplifying, the characteristics of a statue; having the symmetry, or other excellence, of a statue artistically made; as, statuesquelimbs; a statuesque attitude. Their characters are mostly statuesque even in this respect, that they have no background. Hare.

Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest standard; of full value; as, a work of sterling merit; a man of sterling good sense.

Intensity or degree of the distinguishing and essential element; spirit; virtue; excellence; -- said of liquors, solutions, etc.; as, the strength of wine or of acids.

Fullness of measure; hence, excellence of quality. Three hogsheads of ale of the first strike. Sir W. Scott.

racing, riding, etc. In the studs of Ireland, where care is taken, we see horses bred of excellent shape, vigor, and size. Sir W. Temple. He had the finest stud in England, and his delight was to win plates from Tories. Macaulay.

Something striking or amazing in quality; something of extraordinary excellence. [Slang] Thackeray.

Striking or overpowering with astonishment, especially on account of excellence; as, stunning poetry. [Slang] C. Kingsley. -- Stun"ning*ly, adv. [Slang]

ject of thought, either material or immaterial; as, the words man, horse, city, goodness, excellence, are substantives.

Showy; excellent; grand; as, a superb exhibition. Superb paradise bird (Zoöl.), a bird of paradise (Paradisæa, or Lophorina, superba) having the scapulars erectile, and forming a large ornamental tuft on each shoulder, and a large gorget of brilliant feathers on the breast. The color is deep violet, or nearly black, wi…

Eminent in a superior degree; surpassing others in excellence; as, a supereminent divine; the supereminent glory of Christ. -- Su`per*em"i*nent*ly, adv.

Higher or greater in excellence; surpassing others in the greatness, or value of any quality; greater in quality or degree; as, a man of superior merit; or of superior bravery.

Highest; greatest; most excellent or most extreme; utmost; greatist possible (sometimes in a bad sense); as, supreme love; supreme glory; supreme magnanimity; supreme folly. Each would be supreme within its own sphere, and those spheres could not but clash. De Quincey.

To go beyond in anything good or bad; to exceed; to excel. This would surpass Common revenge and interrupt his joy. Milton.

Eminently excellent; exceeding others. "With surpassing glory crowned." Milton. -- Sur*pass"ing*ly, adv. -- Sur*pass"ing*ness, n.

f her husband; -- so called because this act of self- immolation is regarded as envincing excellence of wifely character. [India]

life To be no better than a homely swain. Shak. Blest swains! whose nymphs in every grace excel. Pope.