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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pre-emin-, Preheminence, -ens, n. Also: pre-eminens, -emynens; -hemenence, -ince, -hemin-, -hemyn-, -hemenance; praeeminence. [ME preeminence (once, Ancr. R. MSS), late ME premin-, premynence (c 1430), e.m.E. preemin-, preemynence (1526), prehemyn- (1486), preheminence, F. prééminence (14th c. in Littré), late L. præēminēntia.Chiefly written as one word.]

1. a. Pre-eminence in authority, dominance, ascendancy.(a) 1490 Irland Mir. I 29/17.
Gouernand all creature aboue and vndir throu his excellence, preeminence & dignite 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 40.
So gret preeminens Ib. 126.
I purposit … In this regioun tyll haue preemynens a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. clxxvii 51.
Preeminence(b) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2598.
I maruell that our byschoppis thynkis no schame To gyf ȝow freris sic preheminens Tyll vse thare office … Precheing for thame Ib. 3239.
Men for tyll haue preheminens And wemen vnder obediens Ib. 3385.
Asseriens Quhilk had so lang prehemynens, I mene of vther nationis Under thare dominationis Ib. 4518. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 4.
And with fer more preheminence … Abone the man, the chyld and wyfe 1558-66 Knox I 144.
All the cleargy that had any preheminance 1567 Sat. P. iv 146.
Preheminance 1568 Cal. Sc. P. II 403.
[For] thair awin prehemenance and particulareteis a1578 Pitsc. I 407/23.
Prehemenence Ib. 165/11. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 164.
That geve the king sould accept the regement upon him, for the preheminence of any subject of the cuntrie uther then himself 1610 Breadalbane Lett. 16 April.
The bischopis sall haue reull and preheminence our the ministeris in all thair proceidingis 1622-6 Bisset I 94/35.
And we exeme … all the clerkis [etc.] [sc. of the College of Justice] … frome all jurisdictioun superioritie devyne command poware preheminance or visitatioun of ony archebischopis [etc.] 16.. Abercrummie Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 5.
Who … assumed the preheminence 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 20 Sept.
And that no forraigne prince [etc.] … ought to have any jurisdictione pouer supperioratie prehemenince or authoritie ecclesticall or civell within this reallam

b. Superiority of rank or position, priority of place, precedence. a1568 Bell. Bann. MS. 370 a/84.
Quhais antient bluid be hie preheminence Decorit is 1549 Compl. 144/28.
There vas na defferens of staitis at that tyme amang men, nothir in preeminens dignite superiorite nor honour 1558 Perth Convener Ct. Bk. 32.
Quhay [sc. the merchants] culd nevir be satifeitt withe brederlie luff bot evir sutand prehemynance without ony titill 1560 Acts II 531/2.
The interpretatioun [of the scriptures] … appertenis [not] … to ony kirk for ony preeminence or prerogatiue personalle or localle quhilk ane hes abone ane vther 1565 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 36 b.
The estate name and preheminance quhilkis he detfulle had of befor 1570 Leslie 62.
Preheminence Ib. 178.
Preheminence 1571–2 Reg. Privy S. VI 275.
Gevand to him the voit and preheminence of ane commendatar or abbot 1581 Acts III 234/2. 1597 Skene Verb. S. (2 ed.) s.v. Ochiern.
Ochiern, ogetharius, … appeiris to be of equall honour and preheminence with the sonne or daughter of ane thane Id. Reg. Maj. ii 45 b.
Na man of quhatsumever estate, degrie or preheminence

c. An instance of these. 1526 Misc. Spald. C. II 179.
With all feis proffittis emolumentis preeminencis [ed. -entis] preuilegiis and dewiteis belangand to the said office 1602 Soc. Ant. XXX (1895–6) 54.
Preheminences 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 504.
Dischairgit … of all previlegeis, prehemenenceis, digniteis, [etc.] … quhilkis he did injoy 1651 Montgomery Mem. 315.
To hold and enjoy all … allowances, preheminences and authorities, as are incident … to the office … of a captaine-generall

2. Superiority in a quality or art, greater excellence. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 869.
One angell … To quhome he gaif preheminence, Aboue thame all, in sapience 1551 Hamilton Cat. 20.
Of the preeminens and excellent dignitiee of the Pater Noster 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5529.
Ane cunning clerk … Quhilk in phisick and vther heich science Ouir all vther he had preeminence 1562-3 Winȝet I 101/11.
Nor ȝit haifand præeminence by wtheris of godly leuing 1572 Buch. Detect. 123.
And ȝit in this point scho sall haue na preheminence