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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Excellent, -end, a. Also: eccelent. [ME. excellent (Wyclif), OF. excellent, L. excellent-, excellens.]

1. Outstanding, superior: a. Of persons, freq. as an honorific epithet.(1) 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
He excellent and rycht mychty prynce 1416 Red Bk. Menteith I. 285.
Our most excellent cosyng the Kyng of Ingillande c1420 Wynt. viii. 821.
Excellend [C. excellent] Prynce … and Kyng 1482 Edinb. Chart. 146.
The maist excellent and maist michti Prince Edwarde c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. h.
At the said lordis cumyng to Edinburghe … send in ane ryght excellent embassat 1531 Bell. Boece I. 131.
Ane maist excellent person, dotat with sindry virtewis 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 96.
To the King his most eccellent Maiestie(2) 1456 Hay I. 288/22.
He is the maist excellent and hie in warldly honour and dignitee a1500 Henr. Orph. 21.
To the young and insolent, To mak thame in all vertu excellent 1513 Doug. x. vii. 181.
Thai war excellent of bewte baith tway 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 97.
Ilk nobill set … his hole intent To be excellent in habilȝement 1562-3 Winȝet II. 47/20.
In quhome thai war mony thingis sa fer excellent, sa singular, sa meruolous a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxvi. 1.
All wemeine ar guid, nobille, and excellent

b. Of things. 1456 Hay I. 292/29.
The name of king was mare excellent na the name of Emperoure Ib. 33.
The hiest degree and maist excellent a1500 Bk. Chess 214.
As discipulis in his scule thai stud, Throw his excellend wittis altitud 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 80.
Forto translait this maist excellent buke, I meyn Virgillis volume maist excellent c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1368.
The … qualitie of Noyis arke, Quhilk wes ane rycht excellent warke a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 24.
Sen hir bontie … To bewtie couplit is … In heichest staige of excellent degrie

2. Excelling (in some respect). c1420 Wynt. vii. 1202.
That Prynce excellent in wysdwme All pryncys off the Crystyndwme a1500 Henr. Fab. 1617.
The profound wit of God omnipotent … Excellent far all mannis jugement 1513 Doug. i. viii. 5.
The queyn Dido, excellent in bewte, To tempill cumis