Preeminent
/ˌpriːˈɛmɪnənt/noun
Surpassing all others; superior or most important.
Did you know?Preeminent comes from Latin roots meaning “to stand out in front,” and its power is the same prestige logic behind words like eminent and imminent, which all began with the image of something jutting forward.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
praeeminēns
“standing out in front, surpassing others”
Late Latin
Latin
praeeminere
“to stand out in front, excel”
Old French
Old French
preeminent
“surpassing, superior”
14th Century
English
preeminent
“surpassing others in rank or excellence”
Modern English
English
preeminent
“surpassing all others; foremost”