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A suffix used to form the superlative of adjectives and adverbs; as, smoothest; earl(y)iest.

Bp. Gardiner. Famous men, -- whose scientific attainments were esteemed hardly less than supernatural. Hawthorne.

injury by some magical or fascinating influence. It is still believed by the ignorant and superstitious that some persons have the supernatural power of injuring by a look. It almost led him to believe in the evil eye. J. H. Newman. -- Evil speaking, speaking ill of others; calumny; censoriousness. -- The evil one, th…

Ravenna, the title of the viceroys of the Byzantine emperors; in the Eastern Church, the superior over several monasteries; in the modern Greek Church, a deputy of the patriarch , who visits the clergy, investigates ecclesiastical cases, etc.

rpass others in good qualities, laudable actions, or acquirements; to be distinguished by superiority; as, to excel in mathematics, or classics. Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel. Gen. xlix. 4. Then peers grew proud in horsemanship t' excel. Pope.

being excellent; state of possessing good qualities in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue. Consider first that great Or bright infers not excellence. Milton.

Excellence; virtue; dignity; worth; superiority. His excellency is over Israel. Ps. lxviii. 34. Extinguish in men the sense of their own excellency. Hooker.

s in some good quality or the sum of qualities; of great worth; eminent, in a good sense; superior; as, an excellent man, artist, citizen, husband, discourse, book, song, etc.; excellent breeding, principles, aims, action. To love . . . What I see excellent in good or fair. Milton.

In a high or superior degree; -- in this literal use, not implying worthiness. [Obs.] When the whole heart is excellently sorry. J. Fletcher.

made for the purpose of putting the points decided on record so as to bring them before a superior court or the full bench for review.

Forming an exception; not ordinary; uncommon; rare; hence, better than the average; superior. Lyell. This particular spot had exceptional advantages. Jowett (Th. ) -- Ex*cep"tion*al*ly(#), adv.

ficiency, necessity, or duty; that which exceeds what is usual or prover; immoderateness; superfluity; superabundance; extravagance; as, an excess of provisions or of light. To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, . . . Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. Shak. That kills me with exces…

One of the superior courts of law; -- so called from a checkered cloth, which covers, or formerly covered, the table. [Eng.]

naturally from anything else; a preternatural or morbid development; hence, a troublesome superfluity; an incumbrance; as, an excrescence on the body, or on a plant. "Excrescences of joy." Jer. Taylor. The excrescences of the Spanish monarchy. Addison.

Growing out in an abnormal or morbid manner or as a superfluity. Expunge the whole, or lip the excrescent parts. Pope. Excrescent letter (Philol.), a letter which has been added to a root; as, the d in alder (AS. alr) is an excrescent letter.

of demands. "a curb to your exorbitancies." Dryden. The lamentable exorbitances of their superstitions. Bp. Hall.

Filling up; hence, added merely for the purpose of filling up; superfluous. "Expletive imagery." Hallam. Expletive phrases to plump his speech. Barrow.

Serving to fill up; expletive; superfluous; as, an expletory word. Bp. Burnet.

Outreaching; expansive; extended, superficially or otherwise. Men and gods are too extense; Could you slacken and condense Emerson.

Having wide extent; of much superficial extent; expanded; large; broad; wide; comprehensive; as, an extensive farm; an extensive lake; an extensive sphere of operations; extensive benevolence; extensive greatness.