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

Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach. "Thy worth . . . is actions above my gifts." Marlowe. I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun. Acts xxxvi.…

Superior; surpassing; ruling. An ascendant spirit over him. South. The ascendant community obtained a surplus of wealth. J. S. Mill. Without some power of persuading or confuting, of defending himself against accusations, . . . no man could possibly hold an ascendent position. Grote.

In a degree or amount exceeding or surpassing; proceeding to a greater degree than; above, as in dignity, excellence, or quality of any kind. "Beyond expectation." Barrow. Beyond any of the great men of my country. Sir P. Sidney. Beyond sea. (Law) See under Sea. -- To go beyond, to exceed in ingenuity, in research, or…

ummated; perfected. "Crowned with one crest." Shak. "Crowned with conquest." Milton. With surpassing glory crowned. Milton.

guish the beauty, luster, honor, etc., of; to sully; to cloud; to throw into the shade by surpassing. "His eclipsed state." Dryden. My joy of liberty is half eclipsed. Shak.

Surpassing; extraordinary; distinguished (in a bad sense); -- formerly used with words importing a good quality, but now joined with words having a bad sense; as, an egregious rascal; an egregious ass; an egregious mistake. The egregious impudence of this fellow. Bp. Hall. His [Wyclif's] egregious labors are not to be…

Capable of exceeding or surpassing. [Obs.] Sherwood.

To a very great degree; beyond what is usual; surpassingly. It signifies more than very.

Excelling; surpassing others 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.…

The state of surpassing or going beyond limits; the being of a measure beyond sufficiency, 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 th…

Carefully selected or sought out; hence, of distinguishing and surpassing quality; exceedingly nice; delightfully excellent; giving rare satisfaction; as, exquisite workmanship. Plate of rare device, and jewels Of reach and exquisite form. Shak. I have no exquisite reason for 't, but I have reason good enough. Shak.…

Surpassing; exceeding; surmounting. [Obs.]

To insnare; to entrap; to entangle; to catch. Let not the surpassing eloquence of Taylor dazzle you, nor his scholastic retairy versatility of logic illaqueate your good sense. Coleridge.

Not credible; surpassing belief; too extraordinary and improbable to admit of belief; unlikely; marvelous; fabulous. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead Acts xxvi. 8.

Not capable of being imitated, copied, or counterfeited; beyond imitation; surpassingly excellent; matchless; unrivaled; exceptional; unique; as, an inimitable style; inimitable eloquence. "Inimitable force." Dryden. Performing such inimitable feats. Cowper. -- In*im"i*ta*ble*ness, n. -- In*im"i*ta*bly, adv.…

Surpassing; excelling. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Exceeding; surpassing, eminent. Chaucer. "Her passing deformity." Shak. Passing note (Mus.), a character including a passing tone. -- Passing tone (Mus.), a tone introduced between two other tones, on an unaccented portion of a measure, for the sake of smoother melody, but forming no essential part of the harmony.…

Excellent; surpassing. [Obs.] Holland.

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 guilt. In goodness and in power preëminent. Milton.